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DONNINGTON PRIORY
129
Harrison (John, horologist, bap. 1693, d. 1776)
[NOTES FOR A CHOIR, PROBABLY BARROW], AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT WITH SOME MUSICAL NOTATION, 1p., 18th century note: “20 June 1775
From Mr John Harrison” and long autograph manuscript note by Rupert Gould and small pencil autograph note by Humphrey Quill,
all on verso of note, browned, folds, blue ink used by Gould showing through because of damp, a few small tears skilfully repaired,
101 x 162mm., 1775.
*** “NOTE. I found this slip of paper pinned into the book when I bought it. I do not know who wrote the endorsement - but the musical
text is undoubtedly in John Harrison’s own hand. I am well acquainted with this - I once owned his MS. of this very pamphlet and portion
of 2 pages (p. 103 of this) are reproduced in my MARINE CHRONOMETER. RG. 28.XII. 1941.” - Rupert Gould.
Pencil note on verso: “I have the original M.S. mentioned below which Gould sold to a Mr. Harrison of Bournemouth. H.Q.” -
Humphrey Quill.
Found in a copy of A description concerning such mechanism as will afford a nice, or true mensuration of time; together with some
account of the attempts for the discovery of the longitude by the moon: as also an account of the discovery of the scale of musick. John
Harrison wrote and published the above work with the verbose title in the last year of his life. Although it is very important
containing much material crucial to the understanding of his hypotheses on clocks, marine timekeepers and watches, as noted by
his grandson, “he would accept of no assistance in revising the work... as to be unintelligible to the general reader without a
translation and although it has valuable hints for those who are masters of the subject, it may be set down altogether as momento
mori.” Indeed the book was severely criticised in a review resulting in Harrison rushing out a second edition of his work with an
appendix. The heat of Harrison’s fury at the review can be felt from the pages, calling it “nonsense, spite and poison” and stating
that “the like not being elsewhere to be found the Longitude not being to be right truly proved or completed, so long as such - the
said Fellows do reign”; Harrison clearly in full spate and with little more than three months from his death. The final forty one pages
of this book are in part, a synopsis of the musical thesis which remained in manuscript. Harrison however, clearly intended to
publish the work and wrote of doing so. The original manuscript of John Harrison’s publication survives in the library of the National
Maritime Museum. It was at one time owned by Rupert Gould and THE AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT SLIP BY JOHN HARRISON CAME WITH IT.
It relates to the music of a choir, quite possibly that at Barrow. Although there is no reference on the manuscript it is reasonable to
suggest that it could be an addition to p. 84 of the printed work.- Andrew King.
£3,000-4,000
129
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