"
Although it is common enough now to make first-rate
chronometers-- sufficient to determine the longitude with almost
perfect accuracy in every clime of the world--it was very
different at that time, when Harrison was occupied with his
laborious experiments. Although he considered his third machine
to be the ne plus ultra of scientific mechanism, he nevertheless
proceeded to construct a fourth timepiece, in the form of a
pocket watch about five inches in diameter. He found the
principles which he had adopted in his larger machines applied
equally well in the smaller, and the performances of the last
surpassed his utmost expectations. But in the meantime, as his
third timekeeper was, in his opinion, sufficient to supply the
requirements of the Board of Longitude as respected the highest
reward offered, he applied to the Commissioners for leave to try
that instrument on board a royal ship to some port in the West
Indies, as directed by the statute of Queen Anne.
Though Harrison's third timekeeper was finished about the year
1758, it was not until March 12, 1761, that he received orders
for his son William to proceed to Portsmouth, and go on board the
Dorsetshire man-of-war, to proceed to Jamaica. But another
tedious delay occurred. The ship was ordered elsewhere, and
William Harrison, after remaining five months at Portsmouth,
returned to London.
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