" Yet they would not give Harrison the necessary
certificate, though they were of opinion that he was entitled to
be paid the full reward!
It is pleasant to contrast the generous conduct of the King of
Sardinia with the procrastinating and illiberal spirit which
Harrison met with in his own country. During the same year in
which the above resolution was passed, the Sardinian minister
ordered four of Harrison's timekeepers at the price of 1000L.
each, at the special instance of the King of Sardinia "as an
acknowledgement of Mr. Harrison's ingenuity, and as some
recompense for the time spent by him for the general good of
mankind." This grateful attention was all the more praiseworthy,
as Sardinia could not in any way be regarded as a great maritime
power.
Harrison was now becoming old and feeble. He had attained the
age of seventy-four. He had spent forty long years in working
out his invention. He was losing his eyesight, and could not
afford to wait much longer. Still he had to wait.
"Full little knowest thou, who hast not tried,
What hell it is in suing long to bide;
To lose good days, that might be better spent;
To waste long nights in pensive discontent;
To spend to-day, to be put back to-morrow,
To feed on hope, to pine with fear and sorrow."
But Harrison had not lost his spirit. On May 30th, 1765, he
addressed another remonstrance to the Board, containing much
stronger language than he had yet used.
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