History of the Down Survey (Petty 1851)/3
CHAPTER III.
WHEN the drawing up of the contract, as by the above report, and the finishing of the same as to other matters, was referred to the said Mr Worsely, he brings about againe (and that before the Councill Mr Worsly objections to the price notwithstanding the above report) the consideration of the price, alleadging the same to be exorbitant, and above what was now allowed by the Act, or heretofore, for the admeasurement of Conaught and Tipperary, unto which was answered:
answered.1st. That the allowance of fourty shillings per thousand for barrony lines, the last year, which was dearer then thirty pounds per thousand for what was propounded, and other extravagant rates since that, had made the Surveyor set an unreasonable value uppon their labour, more indeed then the same doeth intrinsecally deserve.
2dly. That, as to Conaught survey, it was done only according to the lowest denominations; this, not only soe, but with distinction of proprieties, subdivisions, and double books and plotts. Moreover, there was then allowed a surcharge of a Director-Generall of the said works. Here all is comprehended in the rate per thousand. The admeasurers then and there paid little for their diet and lodging, bounders, marksmen, spademen, &c.; needed noe guards, wrought in a well-planted and accommodated countrey, and made great advantage by transcripts of their survey; none of all which advantages must be now exspected.
3dly. The countrey is now overgrowne with rushes, shrubwood, bogs, and other impediments; the worke must often stand for want of bounders, guards, tables for protraction, &c.
4thly. The extraordinary dispatch and security now proposed, may, in all reason, much advance the rate.
5thly. The adventurers give much higher rates, with whome tis easier dealing then with the State.
6thly. The States pay three pounds per thousand, and yet have all the benefit of the armye's extraordinary and voluntary contribution of above four pounds more.
7thly. There is to be a reimbursement out of this allowance of all the charge of the gross survey now in hand, which probably may amount to above three thousand pounds; whereas, tis uncertaine whether the whole will amount to seaven times as much, which reduces the allowance under six pounds.
8thly. Nothing is allowed for vast scopes of unprofitable land, and but bare three pounds for Crowne, church, and corporation, and other To do the whole for 2600li gains.lands reserved to the State. I offered afterwards to doe the whole for 2600li gaines.
The Dr to discover which way he would perform the same.When this difficulty was over, and the agreement seemingly made, it was then urged that the Dr should discover to the Councill and army by what means he should hope to bring this undertaking to pass.
The which discovery was assented unto: provided that, uppon satisfaction given therein, the security of ten thousand pounds should be either dispensed with or lessened.
In order whereunto he offered: [1st] to produce such instruments for surveying as he had allready made in Dublyn, with the workemen he had instructed to make more.
Into how many parts he divided the art of surveying.2dly. He divided the whole art of surveying into its severall parts, viz.: Ffield worke; 2, protracting; 3, casting; 4, reducing; 5, ornaments of the mapps; 6, writing fair bookes; 7, examination of all and every the premisses; withall setting forth, that for the speedier and surer performance he intended to imploy particular persons uppon each specie, according to their respective fittness and qualifications.
3dly. That he had, by a more distinct, methodicall, and comprehensive ffield booke; by removing some entanglement in the card wherein the needle playes; by exterminating the use of triangles and intermixt multiplication in the casting up of the superficiall content, much facillitated the whole practice of surveying.
4thly. That by keeping a magazine of all necessary, and breeding more artists then he should need, he hoped to obviate the danger of negligence, unfaithfullness, &c., in those whom he should employ.
5thly. That uppon the field worke, it being a matter of great drudgery (to wade through boggs and water, climb rocks, fare and lodge hard, &c.), he would instruct foot souldiers, to whom such hardships were familiar.