|
(ADVERTISEMENT.)
HODGSON'S MAP OF WESTMORLAND.
To the Editor of the Kendal Gazette.
SIR, - I shall be as brief as possible, notice the last
letter of C. Greenwood, and I apprehend, a very few
observations will set the matter at issue, in a proper
light. This person wishes me to be "more correct" in my
assertions, and denies having charged me with unfair
proceedings in the prosecution of my Plan. Happily for me,
the whole of our correspondence is in the hands of the
public, and to their judgement I confidently appeal for the
veracity of my statement. The passage on which I founded my
assertion is this: "During our Survey of Cumberland and
Westmorland," says C. Greenwood, "it was discovered, that a
person from Lancaster of the name of Hodgson, had
industriously secured, (how honourably the public must
decide,) the names of a large portion of the Gentlemen of
Westmorland, to his proposed Map, with the perfect knowledge
at the same time of our prior claim to their support; and it
now appears, Gentlemen who were applied to by him,
subscribed their names under the idea they were doing so to
our work."
He leaves the public to decide upon my conduct, but, as the
passage is expressed, it is sufficiently evident what
construction he wishes to put upon it, and I am fully borne
out in saying that he charged me with "dishonourable and
insidious proceedings."
He now, however, abandons this imputation, and avows, as if
to palliate his advancing it, that he has not yet been so
"irregular and ungentlemanly" as to "say a word" about my
Survey! but his forbearance in this respect will operate I
conceive, as little in his favour as his interference about
my Subscribers.
When he says that I endeavour to clear myself of any
knowledge of their having proposed a Survey of Westmorland,
previous to myself, he wholly misrepresents my assertion. I
stated, and now repeat it, that on my commencement, and for
some months after, "I knew nothing" of their "Survey of
Cumberland and Westmorland," during which he had said I
obtained my Subscribers. I knew, perfectly well, nine years
ago, of there proposing a Series of County Maps, but
certainly never thought that such a proposition could be an
obstacle to my Survey of Westmorland! Had these Proprietors
procured a PATENT for exclusively surveying all the Counties
of England, it might indeed have been a different matter!
C. Greenwood denies that he insinuated the probability of my
abandoning the Survey to them, and defies me to produce
evidence to that effect. What ever he may assert, I will
only appeal to those of my Subscribers who were applied to
with the representation, (and some of who informed me,) for
the correctness of my statement, and leave it for them to
appreciate his denial. Most persons have a strong dislike to
their names being brought under public discussion,
especially in a controversy:- this is the only reason that
prevents my obliging him in this particular. Were it in his
power, however, to produce to the world one single name that
was a Subscribed, (as he says,) to Map by MISTAKE, I am [dis
] to think he would not be too scrupulous in doing so:- so
strange an error in this County, at least, would be
considered a "matter" both of "wonder" and of "novelty!" He
next makes mention of "unfair advantages" being taken of
them:- an assertion, which many, at least, of "the Gentlemen
of Westmorland" perverse in its application. And then he
seems to assert a "legitimacy" of claim to their support,
from an expenditure of "upwards of one thousand pounds." My
expense in the Survey of the County has been considerable,
but C. Greenwood would think it rather odd, should I claim
any of their Subscribers on that account.
The public will duly appreciate the important and voluntary
information, given by C. Greenwood, and to the accuracy of
his former Maps; and though he seems to doubt whether my
"effusions," (as he terms them,) be genuine or not, I assure
him I shall not quarrel with him on that ground. To the
public, I wish to apologize, for occupying so much of their
attention, on a subject possessing so little interest to the
general reader; but I hope it will be allowed, that I have
not willingly trespassed upon their patience; and, though,
at present, the Proprietor of but one County Map, and that
of Westmorland, I trust I have as genuine a detestation of
any unfair or illiberal proceedings, as my POWERFUL
competitor C. Greenwood.
I am very respectfully,
T. HODGSON.
Hackthorp, 7 Month 18th, 1823.
|