Greenwood and Hodgson 2.8.1823

Greenwood and Hodgson 2.8.1823



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	Westmorland Gazette, 2 August 1823:-
letter from C Greenwood
	(ADVERTISEMENT.) TO THE EDITOR OF THE GAZETTE. SIR, - As many Gentlemen have expressed a wish to know the exact circumstances which have given rise to the controversy now existing between myself and Mr. Hodgson, I shall endeavour to lay the whole affair as correctly before them as my recollection, aided by such memorandums as are now in my possession, will enable me; in doing so, I will divest myself of every prejudice, that the real substantial merit of the case may assume a shape on which to form a just conclusion. I must, in the first place, take a short review of the circumstances which led me [to that spec]ulation, perhaps, of its kind, unequalled. It being well known by many, that scarcely any county previously surveyed and published ever sufficiently remunerated the surveyor; and therefore, until within the last few years, in order to promote works of this kind, a premium was offered by the Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, (of which Society, in 1819, I had the honour of being voted a member,) to any competent surveyor, disposed to venture upon such a work. I particularly notice these circumstances to shew, that if our undertaking is by any considered in the character of a monopoly, they may be informed that it is undoubtedly one of hard labour, and was instigated more by a wish to see the Counties of England and Wales exhibited in one uniform Atlas, from actual survey, than any expectation of profit. In the year 1814, I entered into an engagement with Messrs. Hurst and Robinson, (then of Wakefield and Leeds, but now successors to the late Alderman Boydell, of London, to make a survey of the County of York, and which, as I have before stated, with the assistance of a gentleman of scientific consequence, under the patronage of the late Mr. Rennie, I commenced and finished in about three years during which period I had the opportunity of arranging such an establishment of surveyors and artists as encouraged me to proceed to the adjoining county of Lancaster; and it was during this survey that, encouraged by the improvement of my establishment, and some valuable connexions I had formed in London, together with many pressing solicitations and promises of support from men of the highest rank in the country, I was led to determine upon making a complete Atlas of English and Welsh Counties, - the first ever attempted from actual survey; and the very next step I then took, was to ascertain whether any the individual counties were proposed in a similar way, as nothing could have induced me to think of opposing the interests of any surveyor who has spirit and inclination enough to embark his capital and the application of his abilities in so uncertain an undertaking such a work would not be disturbed. Few good county maps were to be found, and those existing were generally of ancient date, we therefore prepared and circulated our prospectuses and advertisements for the whole of the counties - having engaged not to interfere with the two above alluded to, until the parties had had every chance of remuneration. About three years ago, having completed the adjoining counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire, we circulated a Prospectus of Durham, Westmorland, and Cumberland, and advertised the same for a considerable period in the Durham Newspaper. On completion of the Survey of Durham, in order to keep a general knowledge of our work in circulation all over England, we proceeded to the South East and from thence to the West of the Kingdom, advertising occasionally in the London, and frequently in the country Newspapers; and on completion of the Survey of Somersetshire, in 1821, we proceeded to Westmorland and Cumberland, that the whole might be finished north of the river Trent, excepting the County of Northumberland, which is one of the two I have before noticed, and was undergoing a Survey by Messrs. Fryers, of Newcastle, when our work was determined upon. Our proceedings were, and had been for some time, well known to all the principal Surveyors in England, and particularly in the northern counties, by whom, without an exception, we have received every assistance they could give, knowing, as they well do, that the task we have undertaken requires it. During the Survey of Westmorland, we sent our advertisement to the Kendal Newspapers, which continued to be inserted for six weeks, when, for the first time, Mr. Hodgson's appeared! and it was not until then we discovered the mischief he had done us. On my arrival in the county, and ascertaining that the number of his Subscribers, with the small price affixed upon his Map, scarcely would cover the expences of Engraving, Printing, and Publishing the same, I felt disposed, even under all the circumstances, to make him such an offer as would yield to him advantages infinitely above any thing that could possibly arise out of his persisting in his opposition with us, and publishing his Map. Being informed he only commenced his Survey a year ago, and during that period, his time has not been entirely devoted to the work, and only employing himself in it, his expences must be trifling; I therefore communicated, through the medium of a most respectable channel, my willingness to make him the following proposition, viz. to refund him of all his expences in his Survey, with a fair remuneration for the time he has employed himself in it, a handsome allowance for the transfer of his Subscribers, and a further sum to be agreed upon; and I appeal to the Gentlemen of Westmorland, whether such an offer, under all the circumstances, ought to be rejected. What must be the feelings of that man who cam exult at the imprudence of Mr. Hodgson, for priding himself upon the contempt he has shewn to such a proposition from parties he has thus treated? and what must be the opinion formed upon his conduct, which appears to be that of a determination to make a sacrifice of himself that he may create a loss to others? Is this liberal? - is it honourable? is this a proceeding worthy of the profession, or an action calculated to introduce a young Surveyor to the esteem of his Friends, and an increase in profitable connexions? This brings me to the subject of Mr.Hodgson's Circular, where he tells his Subscribers, (in allusion to the offer I have just described,) "to a compromise so dishonourable, which would at once have sacrificed the kindness of his Friends and the Subscribers who have patronized his undertaking, he never for a moment listened," Now, I would ask Mr. Hodgson what he would have it understood we have done to merit such a disposition as the one he describes in his friends and subscribers that he feels himself in obedience to their wishes bound to persevere in effecting to us a [severe] and heavy loss, and one he gave us no opportunity of avoiding. Such a representation may be made at the impulse of a moment, but in cooler reflection it loses its existence. The people of Westmorland are actuated by that same generous feeling which distinguishes the [rest] of their country; I know it from ex[experience], and while participating in the [benefits] of it I cannot be discouraged. I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant, C. GREENWOOD, Ambleside, July 30th, 1823. Also in the Kendal Chronicle 2 August 1823.
	Summary from - C Greenwood to - the Editor

	GRAND SCHEME	the Greenwood mapping of all counties


	ABANDONMENT	TH should accept our offer and give up


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