M&D - Chapter 17 - Maskelyne's Affairs

[Johnny Marr]

Moving from the seas (both remiscing of fishing in Wearside, and
considering their own shipbound voyage home)  to the skies, Mason and Dixon
gossip about Maskelyne's practises and motives. Again, there's more than an
element of repression and avoidance in the change of subject, "They would
rather discuss Maskelyne's Affairs, than what waits in England, in their
own Futurity".

So why is Maskelyne spending six months in Helena to observe the Star of
Sirius, when "five minutes is more than enough for some"?
Dixon idly speculates about "Beauties unintroduc'd ", or perhaps a drink
problem, but acknowledges that Mason's in a better position to comment,
having been in close quarters with Maskelyne since October.
Characteristically high minded and prepared to think the best of people -
and mindful of not having left Maskelyne "in the best of mental health",
Mason suggests Maskelyne is staying in the hope of revelation similar to
James Bradley's discovery of the Aberration, another (seemingly) chance
discovery made when Bradley was really watching out for the Parallax of
London's Zenith Star

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberration_of_light#James_Bradley.27s_observations

Mason also suggests that Maskelyne may simply have amde a home for himself
and developed something of a comfort zone in St Helena. Yet, he's also
aware of an upcoming expedition to draw borders between Maryland and
Pennsylvania that the Royal Academy are organising, and that Maskelyne will
be reluctant to personally pursue - Mason expects to be used as a political
pawn, with Maskelyne shepherding him out of sight, a rogue unstrustworthy
talent farmed out to the Brave New World, the American wilderness. In the
meantime Maskelyne will be able to correspond with Bradley, about landing
the top positions with Mason out of the way.

With Bradley still mistrustful of Mason, because of the connection to
Bradley's now wife Susannah, Mason wonders how likely he is to receive the
ppointment after all. There appears to be only one outstanding candidate to
undertake the American study of lunars - "If you aew interested, Dixon,
after the Work you did at the Cape, you may likely write your own Contract"

In the newfound spirit of camaraderie and mutual appreciation, Dixon
wonders whether they mightn't both be sent to America in the name of
Science and the Crown.

"I don't think so"
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