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(ADVERTISEMENT.)
TO THE EDITOR OF THE GAZETTE.
IT is really pitiable to observe the dilemma to which Mr.
Greenwood is reduced in this controversy; the more so, that
his own letters have been no less conducive to this effect,
than any which have been written upon the subject. Those who
have read his flimsy productions, are no less sensible of
this than I am; - and (though they are not worthy of it) I
cannot forbear noticing the glaring and even nonsensical
reasonings of his last letter. It is replete with nothing
but quibbling of the lowest and most stultified order. In
the absence of any thing like argument, he endeavours to
divert the public attention from the main subject by, by
these pitiful and (to himself) most fatal expedients. By
this time I conceive he will have obtained the reputation of
a man whose wisdom is not quite to be compared with that of
Solomon. In endeavouring to contradict the statement of my
knowledge of their proceedings nine years ago, he says,
"This does NOT shew that we had then determined upon the
whole Series; - and yet is does shew we were then commencing
the undertaking in which we are engaged." What sort of stuff
is this? - That they had commenced before they had
determined upon it.
"If," continues he, "a man determines upon a walk with the
intention of proceeding only a mile, and is induced to
advance nine further, would not his commencement be the
beginning of the whole 10 miles?"
The working of intellect with him must have been severe
indeed when he made this illustrative example.
It is not necessary to remark upon this kind of sapiency; -
it speaks loudly for itself, and the people of Westmorland,
having a commiserating feeling, know how to look upon the
man who can thus express himself. What does it amount to? -
That they had then commenced one of the 12 Maps, of which he
now says, that they are not so accurate as their forthcoming
Work will be!!! In my estimation, whatever Mr. Greenwood's
map be, ACCURACY is the vital requisite in a Map of any
kind, and without it what can be its value?
He says, that his "assertions are facts," but such facts,
however, redound but little to his advantage, and the
Gentlemen of Westmorland are fully sensible to their true
value.
He has said much of his being instructed for a few months by
a gentleman who was "under the patronage of Mr. Rennie," and
asks how I, in the absence of similar advantages, can
pretend to equality with them? From his frequent allusion to
this circumstance, it would seem that he much needed such
assistance, but if he insist upon this as the criterion of
his superiority, I will take the liberty of informing him,
that I was for many years, instead of a few months, under
the instruction of persons who in the profession, were
immediately "under the patronage of Mr. Rennie," as well as
other celebrated Engineers.
He states that, "pulling the chain about the County is no
proof of the accuracy of my survey." It would have been well
for him, had he not avowed, however his practice may be,
such a mean notion of that indispensable instrument. What
does he substitute for it, wherein it is necessary to be
used? Does he mean to say that he dispenses with it
altogether in his mode of Survey.
He says that the scale of my Map is only one-fourth larger
than theirs!! but if he will add one-third more to the scale
of his Map, that will make the scale of mine: therefore, I
repeat, that it is one-third larger. Will C. Greenwood be
able to understand this? if not, the youngest schoolboy
mathematician in the country will put him to right upon the
subject.
He states of making a Proposal to me, for a "transfer of my
Subscribers" but I will make free to tell him that the
Gentlemen of Westmorland are not to be so treated. He forms
a very erroneous notion of the inhabitants of this County: I
assure him that under no circumstances, would I barter the
patronage of the Gentlemen of Westmorland for any pecuniary
emolument.
Further observations from me at this time is unnecessary;
and I should hope that C. Greenwood would see the necessity
of retiring, and to render himself no longer the butt of
ridicule.
I am very respectfully,
T. HODGSON.
Appleby, 8 Month 14th, 1823.
Also in the Kendal Chronicle 16 August 1823.
The Kendal Chronicle version has 'stupified' for
'stultified' in the first paragraph, which is corrected in
the issue of 23 August 1823:-
Errata - in Mr. Hodgson's letter in our last, for
"stupified," read stultified.
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