all possibility (as I thought) of this voyage being rendered fruitless like the last, I then desired to have inserted at the end of the instructions some few words to this purpose, "that provided the ex-
sometimes longer than a voyage to the West Indies: adding 'that ships always took their departure from the last land they saw, which never could be Greenwich.—At length the Board determined that the departure should be from Portsmouth.' It thus appears that these gownsmen did not know what almost any cabin boy could have told them of; and yet from the determination having been come to at length it may be inferred they disputed the point to save their honour and—no doubt, to make fun for the Admirals, who must have thought these learned lubbers curiosities in their kind, but would have looked doubtfully, had they been proposed to them for schoolmasters of their respective ships. But, passing this by, aad considering that logic is professionally cultivated among them, or is supposed to be so, it could not be expected they would make no better figure in it, as Commissioners of Longitude, than their bed-maker at college would have done.—4th August, 1763. 'Some time after, Mr. [William] Harrison was asked which of the instruments he intended to take on this trial? He answered the small one, commonly called a Watch [the same that had been taken to Jamaica] as that was now by far the most perfect,—Professor Biisse said, that the third, or last large machine, should also go. Mr. Harrison said, he could not see the least reason why it should go, as he should not abide by it, for he knew it was not so perfect as the Watch; and that the large ones, had done their duty, by opening a principle upon which the small one was made; which might not have been found, could his Father have begun a small one at first.—To this the Astronomer Royal [Professor Biisse] made answer, Sir, the instruments are all the public's,
