PREFACE.
xix
his strange interpretation of that Act.—From an interview between the Earl and the Candidate, we may conclude, his Lordship's plan, if followed up with spirit, would have called for forty or fifty pounds a week in wages to workmen; which when it is considered there was no provision for carrying this mode of explaining the Act into effect, became the height of ridicule: yet a Peer of Scotland, and p.r.s., persisted in such an untenable argument: his absurd advice to John Harrison, at the time, was, to borrow all the money he could of his friends; naming Mr. Short, in particular; but he did not offer to back such counsel, by advancing him a fraction of a pound sterling.—The Commissioners of Longitude being presumed to have been all men of competent education, and more or less acquainted with what passes in our courts of equity and common law, how came it, that in a case on which the
promised by this Act, which was £5,000.—In despite of considerations so obvious, this Nobleman, "wise in his own conceit," attempted to show that if our Mechanician did not conform to his resolves, he could not be entitled to another trial. Upon which Lord Sandwich, who was present, though not as one of these Commissioners, interfered, to say—
'there was no sort of connexion between the explanation [under this Act] and another trial; and as he plainly saw, from what had passed, that it was not in Mr. Harrison's power to comply with their demands, therefore he should have another trial when he pleased, and as soon as he pleased. Upon which the meeting dissolved; and Lord Morton said—"If this is the case, I am sure Harrison will get all the money."'
