button to main menu  Greenwood and Hodgson 26.7.1823

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Westmorland Gazette, 26 July 1823:-
  letter from A Subscriber
(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.

Summary

from - A Subscriber
to - the Editor, replying to C Greenwood
ABANDONMENT CG seems to have lost his temper; CG did threaten to make thing unpleasant for TH
SURVEYING METHODS just how did CG work, did it include 'stepping', rather than a chain, for the roads; what level of error is acceptable
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