Longitude (2000– )

Samuel West: Nevil Maskelyne

Quotes 

• 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.

• [The Board, having paid half the reward, takes possession of all the clocks] 

  John Harrison : The machines are ready for collection. I will need a certificate from you that they're in good order.

  Reverend Nevil Maskelyne : I am not sure I'm a good judge of that, sir.

  John Harrison : For once I agree with you.

  Reverend Nevil Maskelyne : I can state that they appear to be in good order; I think that will suffice.

  John Harrison : I can state as a fact they're in perfect order.

  Reverend Nevil Maskelyne : That will not be necessary.

  John Harrison : And I will need it to be understood that when they left my property that was the case. And that you are entirely responsible for their safety from this moment on!

  Reverend Nevil Maskelyne : I accept that responsibility. Now what is their normal method of transport?

  William Harrison : Boat!

  Reverend Nevil Maskelyne : Do not bandy words with me, sir.

  William Harrison : I am serious. They should go to Greenwich by barge, not some old cart like a butcher'd carry a bag of bones in!

• Lieutenant John Campbell : Gentlemen, Captain Cook is carrying a copy of Mr. Harrison's timekeeper made by Mr. Kendall, and the, um, astronomical tables of the Rev. Maskelyn. His full report will not be available until his return, but I am able to read you this extract from his log: "It would not be doing justice to Mr. Harrison and Mr. Kendall if I did not own that we have received very great assistance from this useful and valuable timepiece. The watch was used to predict the landfall of St. Helena within three miles."

  Reverend Nevil Maskelyne : This is not evidence, but anecdote!