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MAPS OF WESTMORLAND.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE GAZETTE.
SIR, - Much has been said in your Paper of late, on the
above subject, which may be summed up thus. Mr. Greenwood it
seems was formerly a private Surveyor at a petty Town in the
West Riding of York; and having removed to London, he, by
instructions, (during the long period of a few months,) of
Gentlemen of scientific consequence, who was under the
patronage of Mr. Rennie, was taught to become at once the
most eminent and scientific Surveyor in the kingdom; and
therefore determined to form a complete Atlas of England and
Wales. This instruction and patronage, reminds me of the
following anecdote. - A countryman on his return from London
was asked by his neighbours if he had seen the King. "No."
said the man, very proudly,) I've not seen him; but I have
seen another man, who told me he had seen the King." Mr. G.
had not seen Rennie or the king; but another person had.
Speaking of the King, also reminds me of Mr. Greenwood's
boast of exhibiting his Diagrams "in the Library of one of
the first Princes of Europe." This insinuates that he had
shewed them to the King; but I doubt Mr. G. ever had the
honour of attending his Majesty in his Library. 'Tis true he
might shew them to some of the Lords in waiting there - had
his Majesty seen them, we should have had a more pompous
announcement. No doubt our Gracious Sovereign patronises
every work appearing national or useful: but surely neither
his Majesty or any of the Nobility ever dreamt that when
they gave the sanction of their illustrious names to Messrs.
G. and Co., they granted them an "odious monopoly;" and
issued a decree against the industry and talents of all the
rest of his Majesty's subjects. On the 26th of June, Mr.
Greenwood first insinuates that though Mr. Hodgson had
industriously obtained signatures for his Map, he had not
obtained them honourably, and directly challenges him with
obtaining such signatures under false pretences. What was
the inference hereon? but that Mr. Hodgson was a Knave, or
the Gentlemen of Westmorland were Fools, and would not read
his Prospectus? this is the only conclusion any reasonable
man can draw. Mr. G. finding he had drawn too long a bow,
states in his following letter, that there is not a man in
Westmorland who has seen any statement from my pen
challenging Mr. Hodgson with "dishonourable and insidious
proceedings." Yet in his next letter he repeats his charge,
stating the "most unfair advantages he has taken of us;" and
"the most unfair, illiberal, and unhandsome manner" of his
obtaining Subscribers: though in the very same letter he
says it is evidently a mistake, that I have charged him with
dishonourable proceedings. Who can reconcile these
contradictions of Mr. Greenwood's.
Now, Mr. Editor, when any person, much less a Gentleman or
scientific Surveyor, dares assert or insinuate, (I care not
whether,) that his opponent has frustrated his plans by
improper, if not by morally fraudulent proceedings; and
afterwards in the face of his own printed letters, in both
newspapers, has the impudence or audacity to say no man has
"ever seen such a statement" from him. When with such
unblushing modesty, he attempts to gull the ignorant
Gentlemen of Westmorland, what are we to think of such a
person, however instructed, however patronised, possessed of
even the most immense talents, and bearing upon his own
shoulders such a weight of abilities, like a prototype
Atlas, support ten thousand worlds. Mr. G. and his Map may
be compared to a father who boasts that his own bantling is
UNEQUALLED; but who, except the fond parent, believes it.
I admit for the sake of argument, (though I deny the fact,)
that Mr. Hodgson knew that the Greenwoods were engaged in
surveying Cumberland and Westmorland at the time he
commenced his undertaking; and I reply that notwithstanding
this, the field was fairly and honourably open to both; and
also to as many other Surveyor as chose to oppose THEM. This
London Yorkshire Surveyor unblushingly asserts the
principle, that because they (Greenwood and Co.) have the
vanity merely to advertise their intentions of making a
grand Atlas of the Kingdom, no other Surveyor has the right
to publish the Map of any County from Land's End to the
Tweed. I wonder why they did not (as by the same presumption
they equally might) extend their exclusive jurisdiction of
making Maps to John o'Groats; or even from the North to the
South Pole.
"---- I am, Sir, Oracle;
And when I ope my lips let no dog bark."
In July last, Messrs. Greenwood, in their prospectus,
engaged that in the course of this Autumn their Map would be
published; and have since said that it would appear in a few
months. But now they inform the public that they will delay
the publication of their Map until Mr. Hodgson's appears,
under the flimsy pretence that by this means "an opportunity
will offer for fair investigations."
Now what will the ignorant Gentlemen of Westmorland say to
this? What would any reasonable man think? I will suppose,
for instance, two mechanics each engaged in making a
machine; and one says, he declines producing his, until he
has seen his brother's work. Would not the public believe,
(though I will not by any means insinuate this is the case
between scientific Surveyors,) that the first machine would
be the original, and that the delay and inspection would
give the cunning mechanic an opportunity of copying his
opponent's, and correcting his own.
Mr. Greenwood says, "ridicule cannot alter facts; - this I
admit and have not yet attempted the use of that
all-powerful weapon, being a Rustic, "wanting the polish and
refinement" of the "information and experience of the
Yorkshire Citizen; not having the clearness of comprehension
to understand his contradictions, and especially his last
assertion, that Hodgson's Map is not one third larger than
his. It is, Sir, evident to any one that Mr. Hodgson is
correct when he states that his Map is one third more in
extent than Greenwood's. For instance I will place down four
pieces of money, extending to 40 inches and call it
Hodgson's Map; I will then take three pieces of money
extending to thirty inches and call it Greenwood's Map, I
will then deduct these three or 30 inches from the four or
40 inches, and then remains one piece or 10 inches to
Hodgson; which 10 is one third of (30) Greenwood's Map.
Therefore, H's is one third (of G.'s observe,) larger than
G.'s; though it is true H.'s is only one fourth its own size
larger than G.'s; but this fourth is equivalent to one third
of Greenwood's Scale.
I am astonished that Mr. Greenwood, with all his
mathematical studies, could not comprehend this. Then as to
his grand expression, "four-thirds of an inch. Mr. G. is
entitled to some originality in this sort of arithmetic; I
am sure that Cocker never made such discoveries. I have
heard of 1/s, 2/3 and even of 3/3, or the whole, but never
heard of 4/3, or even conceived it possible for any number
of fractions to be larger than the unit, or of any part or
number of parts being greater than the whole.
"When," as Mr. Greenwood says, (most sublimely), "the
INTERSECTION of the cross hairs in the Telescope on our
large instrument is fixed on the Tower, Obelisk, or other
prominent feature in the County!!!" I hope Mr. G.will give
timely notice of the hour and place: no doubt he will be
remunerated by the attendance of as many spectators as the
Bottle Conjuror ever drew together on his ludicrous attempt.
I will exclaim in the style of John Gilpin -
Long live this scientific man,
And all his company;
And when they next a county scan,
May I be there to see.
I will conclude with the following parody upon Mr.
Greenwood's beautiful little Dialogue, which I hope will be
continued for public edification.
Greenwood. - Retire, Sir, retire.
Hodgson. - Why, friend, why?
G. - Neither you, or any other Surveyor has a right to
survey a county in England, because me and my unequalled
establishment are going to do them all!
H. - Who art thou and thy establishment, friend?
G. - The great Greenwood and Company; the sole scientific
Surveyors.
H. - I suppose then thou art the man who promised two Maps
of Yorkshire to my friends at Sheffield, for the assistance
they rendered you?
G. - I am.
H. - Didst thou ever send them?
No answer.
H. - Thou hast got a great Telescope?
G. - Yes, so large that when Towers, Obelisks, and other
prominent features of a county are put into it, the
intersection of the cross hairs in it can be fixed upon
them; and such Diagrams, that the Guards of a mail-coach
told me they were too big for his coach.
H. - Hast thou any other instruments but this?
G. - Yes, all sorts!
H. But dost thou ever use them?
No answer.
H. - Well, friend, if thou wouldst rather not answer this
question, I will bid thee farewell: proceed with thy plan,
and I shall with mine.
Your's &c.
A KENDAL SUBSCRIBER TO HODGSON'S MAP.
Kendal, August 27th, 1823.
Also in the Kendal Chronicle 30 August 1823.
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