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Updated: May 27, 2025
While the gun was being loaded, Tompion availed himself of the opportunity to deliver a short lesson on gunnery, for my especial benefit, of which all that I remember was that he attached great importance to the "trajectory," and was eloquent on the subject of the "parabolic curve."
Tompion was accordingly summoned and bid do his best to "wing" the Frenchman, a task to which he devoted himself with great gravity and a considerable assumption of importance.
Nay, for that matter, it stands where it did a hundred years ago in the old recess by Nash's statue and inscription, and was no doubt ordered at the opening of the rooms. In an old account of Bath, at the opening of the century, attention is called to the Tompion clock with a sort of pride.
"What! is he dead?" inquired Tompion, in a voice which showed that he participated in the feeling of the crews, although he might very probably benefit by the vacancy thus created; yet, I will venture to say, the thought of this did not enter his head. "No, sir, not dead, I hope," said the coxswain.
We were heading due east, which was a great relief to my mind, as I knew that we had plenty of sea-room in that direction, and could run for days if need were without bringing up against anything. A man came working his way aft, hauling himself along by the bulwarks, to relieve the wheel, and Tompion joined me under the partial shelter of the companion.
At last "I think we are within range now, sir; shall we try a shot from our bow-chasers?" said Mr Sennitt. "We can scarcely reach him yet, I am afraid," said the skipper; "but there will be no harm in trying." The order was given, and old Tompion, the gunner, undertook in person the task of levelling the gun.
"Ah! there comes the cutter," he exclaimed; "Tompion is firing his brass gun to draw our attention. Don't fire again, Mr Black, it is not necessary, and will disturb Mr Linton, but burn a blue light it will prevent their going out of their course, for it will be some time before they will otherwise be able to distinguish us."
The sight sobered him somewhat, for he immediately shouted orders to cast loose the guns, himself tearing the breeching from the nine-pounder next him and taking out the tompion.
She had foundered within two hours of the engagement, while two hundred of her officers and crew were prisoners of war on board the Tompion, and a hundred and twenty British subjects, mostly the crews of vessels taken and sunk by the raider, found themselves once more under the banner of liberty the White Ensign.
Tompion became warmly attached to him, treated him as a son, gave him the full benefit of his skill and knowledge, took him into partnership, and finally left him sole possessor of the business. For nearly half a century George Graham, Clock-maker, was one of the best known signs in Fleet Street, and the instruments made in his shop were valued in all the principal countries of Europe.
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