Longitude (2000– )

Brian Cox: Lord Morton

Quotes 

• Lord Morton : This society was created so that men of *science* might solve the mysteries of our planet. I would not wish to see the longitude prize stolen by a country toolmaker.

• Lord Morton : Mr. Harrison, please step forward.

  [reads] 

  Lord Morton : "It is the finding of this Board that the watch or timepiece created by John and William Harrison did keep correct time within the greatest accuracy required by the Act of Queen Anne as drawn up by Parliament 51 years ago."

  [applause] 

  William Harrison : Milord, may I have a copy of those to show my father? He has waited a long time to hear your Lordship's kind words.

  Lord Morton : In good time, Mr. Harrison. Astronomer Royal, would you be kind enough to read the fifth paragraph of the Act?

  Reverend Nevil Maskelyne : My lord.

  [reads] 

  Reverend Nevil Maskelyne : "And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, that as soon as such Method for the Discovery of the said Longitude shall have been tried and found practicable and useful at Sea..."

  Lord Morton : Thank you. "Practicable and useful": those are the words I wish to draw to your attention. We accept the usefulness of the watch, but is it practicable? Mr. Harrison himself has never permitted this committee to examine the workings of his timepiece; I suggest to you that is because he himself has doubt about the practical use of his invention.

  William Harrison : Milords, you must understand that my father has sought to protect his work from those who might steal his inventions. But if this board requires it, we shall submit detailed drawings of the workings of the watch, when he has received his prize.

  Lord Morton : Mr. Harrison, this Board does not accept restrictions placed upon its work as prescribed by Parliament! *Here* are the conditions required for fulfilment of the terms of the Act!

  Reverend Nevil Maskelyne : [reading]  "First, your father must, in person, take the watch apart and explain the working of every detail to the complete satisfaction of such persons as this Board shall appoint. This shall include any experimental observations they may require. Secondly, he shall make, or cause to be made under his sole direction, two further watches of the same design, to demonstrate the practicality of their construction. And thirdly, these new watches shall be subjected to such test or tests as this Board shall require, to ascertain their usefulness under the terms of the Act." Then, and only then, will he receive his prize.

  William Harrison : Milord, my father is sick and he's 73 years old.

  Lord Morton : He has until Thursday to accept the conditions -- which, I must inform you, have been submitted to Parliament and will form part of a new amendment to this Bill.

• William Harrison : Would it be possible to set out more explicitly what the Board requires, so that we might be prepared for it?

  Lord Morton : *No, sir -- it would not*! It is not your business, sir, to limit the inquiry of this board, but to satisfy it!

  John Harrison : It is not my business, *sir*, to explain the workings of a lifetime to a group of *dog-collared university book-swallowers* who wouldn't know the difference between a *balance spring* and a *bedside pan*! The thirty years I've stood before this board, I've never once had the occasion to talk to anyone who knew anything about what I was actually doing, any sense of the mechanisms I've created! But I carried on... trusting that if I fulfilled the Act of Queen Anne, I'd get my just rewards. *I have* fulfilled that Act... I have made such a mechanism. Give me my prize, and I'll use the money to build a, a factory... make a 'undred watches, a thousand, each one the same. But I will not, as long as I've got a drop of English blood in me body, I'll not dance to the tune of a group of ignorant *schoolboys*!

• Lord Morton : Mr. Harrison, either your father signs an oath agreeing to these terms, or this matter ends here. We are prepared to pay half the award (less those monies paid out), once we are satisfied with the disclosure, and the other half when the new watches made by your father have proved their worth.

  William Harrison : Your Honor, if you would just change the wording of "experimental observations", he would, 'e would sign.

  Lord Morton : No, no, *no*, *NO*, **NO**!!! How many times do I have to say it to you *bloody people*?!! You do *not negotiate* with this Board*!!