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[Page 9]
some hundred thousand pounds and some hundred lives had been saved which were lost in the late West India Fleet, and the distress now entailed on so many Families had not been known. Let the Protestor only reflect on this, and remember, that whilst he was cavilling with me for three thousand pounds His Majesty's ship Apollo and a valuable part of the commerce of this country was wrecked and lost which if they had been provided with only one of my time keepers would not have happened and if only one ship should be saved in the course of one hundred years by my Time Keepers the Reward I asl is nothing in proportion to the advantage arising to the Nation.
I understand that my last letter which I sent to the Board instilled "Points for the Consideration of the Board of Longitude" was not read under the Idea that it was a Libel on my antagonists. If on that head I am not to give those strong proofs which Truth demands in my own defence, it is no longer necessary for me to trouble the Board. But is it not extraordinary that the Truths I therein stated should be deemed a Libel on my antagonists, and no notice taken of the Libellous Falsehoods alledged by them against me. From this encouragement given to my opposers it appears to me more like getting Depositions against me than searching after the Truth, as the Evidence contained in those points would be in a Court of Judicature, have determined the matter highly in my favor.
Now my Lords give me leave to repeat, That when any proposal is made to the Commissioners for determining the Longitude, the act first requires of the to examine whether the means proposed are publicly known. The Commissioners did examine me on this Head fifteen years back, and were then satisfied that I was the Inventor, and I then obtained an order to make two Time Keepers to be tried under the Then Act of Parliament. If Mr. Arnold had been the Inventor, why did he not then oppose me? Surely if he himself when alive could not do it, no one else can, or ought now, to make such an attempt. After having been encouraged by the Commissioners to devote so many years of my life to this difficult Branch of Mechanism (attended with great expence trouble and much anxiety of mind), after the Commissioners have used my Machines so long with a view to public Benefit, can it be just, or even commonly fair, to withhold the Reward from me under a pretence that I am not the Inventor - which fifteen years past they did admit?