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(ADVERTISEMENT.)
Hodgson's
MAP OF WESTMORLAND.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE KENDAL GAZETTE.
SIR, - Mr. Greenwood seems, in a considerable degree, to
have lost the command of his temper - as plain a proof that
the ground upon which he stands is somewhat untenable. He
sees it; and would do well to withdraw before he makes the
matter worse. He would derive much benefit from the perusal
of Colman's Essay on good humour - a work of great value to
one of Mr. Greenwood's constitution. His memory, too, seems
faulty; and I think an antidote of my own may be of service
to him in the respect. This Gentleman, in the plenitude of
his candour, complains of what he calls calumny. Now this is
very foolish in Mr. Greenwood - He will not give the
Westmorland people credit for one iota of knowledge. It is
well known to every one who has noticed his gentlemanly
proceedings, from the commencement of this controversy, to
the present moment, that he is the man to whom the word
calumny ought to be applied. Let me ask this upright and
infallible Mr. Greenwood one little question. Did he not
say, to one of the first Gentlemen in the County, (previous
to the commencement of his more recent absurdities,) "that
if Mr. Hodgson did not give up his Survey to them, that they
(Messrs. Greenwood,) would make it unpleasant to him, by
Advertising against him!!!" Mr, Hodgson, however, treated
the proposals of these unassuming and would-be Monopolists
with suitable contempt. A paragraph then appeared in both
the Kendal papers, concerning their forthcoming correct Map;
in which, amongst other fine things, it is said,
"We do think that nothing of the same kind we ever heard of
can fairly be brought in competition with this concern."
This pretty piece of egotism and bombast, is certainly much
in character with the men who assert a legitimate and prior
claim to the patronage of the Gentlemen of the County.
Now let me ask the gentle Mr. Greenwood, what was his motive
in publishing this liberally worded paragraph? - He need not
answer it: the intention is evident.
He next charges Mr. Hodgson with obtaining Subscribers
improperly; and when I ventured to express my pleasure at
Mr. Hodgson's having cleared himself from so unfounded a
calumny, he thought fit to be very droll with my little and
unscientific production, as he called it.
This, good Mr. Editor, - this is the man who complains of
calumny. I will excuse him, however, from the amusement that
he affords. Grimaldi himself is not more entertaining when
he knocks his nose against the door. Mr. Greenwood calls me
rude, ignorant, and ill-bred. Now if he will let me now what
time in the night it was when he made use of these
expressions, I will tell him whether he was capable of
giving a right judgement upon the subject. For friendship's
sake, however, (as I hate enmity,) I should like to crack an
odd bottle with him, for in my opinion it is a much more
pleasant amusement than taking astronomical observations.
Now for a few of my rude and inconvenient interrogatories.
Mr. Greenwood admits that in County Surveying, Mathematical,
and Astronomical Instruments are indispensable. Will Mr.
Greenwood have the goodness to tell me, in what manner he
fixed the true and scientific position of the Towns,
Villages, Roads, and Rivers of this County? By what
instrument did he measure the course of the Roads of
Westmorland; from his scientific education he will perhaps
be able to say whether stepping, or sketching would be more
correct than in using the chain for such minutiae?
Some time since, a man was seen stepping on the Roads
through the Villages, &c. of Westmorland and, to the no
small amazement of those who saw him. He stopped at
intervals, and seemed to be writing on a piece of paper; but
nobody knew what he was, or what was his object in marching
about in that way.
Can Mr. Greenwood, (from his superlative education, together
with the instructions he had at Leeds,) tell me whether it
is possible for this man to have been taking a Survey for a
County Map?
Another rude interrogatory, as Mr. Greenwood calls them, and
I have done for this time. Does that Gentleman ever give it
a his opinion that a Stepping Surveyor would only be
mistaken about one acre and a half in one hundred and
seventy acres? The proportion of one acre and a half to one
hundred and seventy, being something more than ten thousand
acres in the admeasurement of the whole County. Mr.
Greenwood feels it inconvenient to illustrate his subject by
the exhibition of diagrams in the "limited columns" of a
newspaper!!! A very convenient excuse, it must be confessed.
Mr. Greenwood not only disputes Mr. Hodgson's to be genuine,
but that I am a Subscriber to that Gentleman's Map! I am a
Subscriber, however, he may rest assured of it. I should be
glad to know who he believes to be the writers of the
different productions in question - it is rather odd that he
should suspect Mr. Hodgson to have contributed to my
productions, and yet believe: that Gentleman to be (in Mr.
Greenwood's opinion,) unable to answer for himself without
assistance.
I have not time to pay more attention to Mr. Greenwood this
week, but will be fully at his service next week.
A SUBSCRIBER
To Hodgson's Map of Westmorland.
Also in the Kendal Chronicle 26 July 1823.
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