MD3PAD 43-45

[Toby G Levy]

        The ship returns to port for repairs.

        Mason and Dixon are patting themselves on the back for their
behavior during the battle. Dixon admits to no longer technically being
a Quaker since he was thrown out of a Raby meeting last October. Raby
was the castle where Quaker meetings were held. Dixon says that Quakers
can be tossed out for almost any infraction, large or small.

        Dixon remarks that he has no problem getting along with
Anglicans and Mason says that he has met and liked a  Quaker or two
before Dixon, mentioning John Bird, who was the member of the Royal
Society of Astronomers who recommended Dixon for the job with Mason.

        Two days later they are still talking about the battle.  Mason
questions why the French Admiralty were not advised of the astronomer's
mission and why that did not exempt them from attack on the high seas.
They speculate on the possibility of various plots to do them harm.

        They load up their pipes with Golden Virginian tobacco and
settle down to smoke. They send a letter off to the Royal Society
expressing their concerns as to the wisdom of trying to go to South
Africa to witness the Transit of Venus.  They get back an angry letter
from the Society full of threats. They speculate on the author of the
letter. Could it be Mason's mentor Dr. Bradley, or Dixon's mentor, Mr.
Bird?  They resolve to buck up and carry out their obligation.

Toby