Proposals for the actual survey of all the counties in England and Wales: by Mr. Adams of the Inner-Temple

PROPOSAL FOR THE ACTUAL SURUEY Of all the Counties in ENGLAND and WALES: BY Mr. ADAMS of the Inner-Temple.

THE true measure of a Meridian Line, and the difference of Latitude between the North and South Points thereof, hath been the Enquiry of the best Geographers in all Ages, being the onely means from whence to calculate the true Compass of the Globe of Earth and Water, sup∣posed to be exactly Spherical, and to know how many Miles do make a Degree in any Course, Sea upon a great Circle.

And although the Experiments of our Country-man Mr. Norwood, between York and London, and of Fernelius, Snellius, Riccioli, and the Eminent Picartus beyond Sea, already extant in Print may be thought sufficient on this Subject, yet (the first recommending his Essay to a more correct way of Measure then he used, and all the others dissering in their methods, and disagreeing in the resolution of the thing in Question, and in the adjusting of the Measures of several Nations) the certain truth of this matter doth hitherto remain doubtfull.

The said Mr. Adams for clearing this Important Problem, doth intend to measure a true Meridi••an Line, from the Town of Monmoth, situate upon the Southern Borders of Herefordshire, to the Northern Borders of Cheshire, and to take the exact Latitude of Monmoth, Hereford, Shrewsbury 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Chester, and Warington.

He doth fix upon this part of the Kingdom because (having formerly made, Proposals for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 actual Survey of Shropshire) he already hath the Subscriptions of above one hundred and fifty 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the most considerable Gentlemen in the said County; and the Survey thereof had been completed before now, had not the finishing of his Index Villaris of all the Cities, Marker-Towns, Parishes, Villages and Private Seats in England and Wales, (distinguished by Symbols) and an Alphabe∣tical Table of all the Nobility and Gentry, now ready for the Press, hindred that Work.

And being of opinion, That a true Coasting-Line of the KINGDOM, together with the said Meridi∣an-Line will be a sure foundation to carry on the Survey thereof, especially if such Meridian-Line be continued from Monmoth to the Southern Sea on the Coast of Dorsetshire, and from the Northern part of Cheshire to the Parallel of Barwick: and conceiving that such Survey may be perfected, and large County-Maps engraved within the space of Four Years, to commence from the 25 day of March next 1681. He hopes that the Gentry of this Kingdom will be as ready to encourage this Design, as they were to Subscribe for his Great Map of England, wherein the Computations and Measures of Miles are entred in Figures.

In the MEASURE of the said MERIDIAN-LINE.

• I. He will, with the assistance of an able Surveyor, measure a much greater Stationary Distance then Picartus did, backward and forward, and, besides the Chain and Wheel, will make use of Pikes screwed together, for the adjusting of such Measure.
• II. That in taking the Angles of Position he will use the best Instruments that can be gotten, and compare the way of Snellius by Pinnules, or Common Sights, with that of Picartus, by Telescopes.
• III. To prove the Truth of such Measure, he doth design, That his Brother, William Adams of Long∣don, in the County of Salop, Esquire, (a person very well known in the said three Counties of Salop, Chester, and Hereford, for his Ability and long Experience in Survey) with the assi∣stance of another able Artist, shall measure a different Station with the same Exactness, and proceed in all things as is before proposed, and that if his Brother measure from North to South, he will measure from South to North.
• IIII. That, in taking the several Latitudes of Places, he will use very large Instruments, and make the Observations double and apart, and proceed therein as he shall be directed by the ablest Mathematicians, whose Advice he desires, in an Experiment of so great Importance and ge∣neral use to all Mankind, but more particularly to the Trading part of the World.

〈…〉〈…〉 Intends by two, or more, skilful Surveyors to take the true Circuit, or Girth-line, of the ••hole Kingdom, from the Shore near Carlisle, in Cumberland, to the Lands-end, in Cornwal, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the North foreland, in Kent, and so to Barwick Bounds Northwards, and from thence, the Borders dividing England from Scotland to the Place where the Measure did begin: Which being done, he will divide the Kingdom into four Parts, and imploy eight able Surveyors in ta∣king the Angles of Position of all the eminent Places therein, viz.

• I. Two shall undertake the twelve Counties of Wales, and the County of Monmoth, and shall begin their Survey from the said Meridian-Line.
• II. Two more the Counties of York, Lancaster, Westmerland, Cumberland, Northumberland, and the Bishoprick of Durham.
• III. Two more the Counties of Derby, Nottingham, Lincoln, Warwick, Worcester, Glocester, Oxford, Bucks, Northampton, Leicester, Rutland, Cambridge, Huntington, Bedford, Hertford, Essex, Norfolk, and Suffolk.
• IIII. And the Two last the Counties of Cornwal, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Wilts, Southampton, Berks, Midlesex, Surrey, Suffex, and Kent.

And as for the four Counties of Salop, Chester, Hereford, and Stafford, the said Mr. Adams will (by God's assistance) within the space of 18 months perfect the Actual Survey of three of them, and the County of Stafford is already more then half done, by Mr. Gregory King, Rouge-dragon, Pursi∣vant of Arms, being assisted by Mr. William Gent, an able and experienced Surveyor, in so correct 〈◊〉〈◊〉 manner, that he doubts not but the Borders of Cheshire and Shropshire, adjoining thereunto, when the same are sinished, will perfectly close therewith.

And besides, the said Eight Surveyors, who from the Tops of every Hill, Steeple or other Emi∣••ent Place, shall take the true Bearings, and thereby put all the Cities, Market-Towns, Parish-Churches, Chapels, Villages, Hamlets and Private Seats in their due Position, which he conceives to be the fixing of about 40000 Points, he will imploy thirty persons in the perfecting of the said Work. Ten to make an Actual Survey of all the Rivers, Rivulets, Mears and Standing Waters, and of the 800 Cities and Market-Towns in England and Wales: Ten more to measure all the Roads of the Kingdom: And Ten more to take the true Circuit, or Girth-line of each County, and of all the Hundreds, Forrests, Chases and Parks therein, so that nothing may be omitted to com∣pleat the said County-Maps.

But if in the measuring of the said Coasting-Line, it be thought requisite by the King's most Ex∣cellent Majesty and the Lords of His Council, That the Sands, Shoals, Rocks, Havens, Bayes, Roads, Harbours, Ports, Soundings, Buoys, Beacons, Sea-marks, &c. be accurately observed and set down, he conceives, That the same cannot be done, without a convenient number of small Vessels attending that Service, and which being for the common good of the whole Kingdom, the charge ought to be defrayed by the Publick Purse. But he cannot compute the certain charge thereof without consulting able and experienced Sea-men.

And having now spent six years in the Geographical Study of this Kingdom, and perusing all the Authors he could meet with, who have Mapped or described the same, or any part thereof, and making usefull Collections sutable to carry on so great a Work, he now makes his Applicati∣on to both the Universities for their Advice in the Regulation thereof, and to the Nobility and Gen∣try for their encouragement by Subscriptions, and to induce them thereunto, he makes the fol∣lowing Offers.

• I. He doth undertake to publish an Account in Print of the true Measure upon the Surface of the Earth, which will answer to a Degree in the Heavens, and of the true Circuit of England and Wales, by the 25th, day of March, 1682.
• II. That he will finish the Survey of the said three Counties of Salop, Chester, and Hereford, by the 29th. day of September, 1682. and that each of the said County Maps, and all his County Maps, with the Ornament thereof, shall be at least two Foot deep, and three Foot long; and that he will therein insert all the Towns, Villages, Private-seats, Roads, Rivers, Rivulets, Mears, Standing waters, Forrests, Chases, Parks, Woods, Hills, and whatever else shall be thought usefull for the perfecting thereof.
• III. That he will, by way of Bordure, add an Alphabetical Table of all the Gentry of each County, and grave their several Coats of Arms, larger then in Dr. Plott's Map of Oxfordshire, gratís. Provided, That due Information be given him of the Blazon of such Coats.

THE PROPOSALS.

• I. The Person who subscribes for any of the said County Maps shall have the same pasted upon Cloth, well coloured, and with Rowler and Ledge, for ten shillings each Map, to be paid upon delivery: and if any Tradesman or other Person will subscribe for five Maps, he shall receive six.
• II. But, forasmuch as the Measuring of the said Meridian and Coasting line will put him to the Charge of Eight hundred pounds or upwards, in preparing accurate Instruments and imploying a considerable number of Persons to assist him in that Work, he makes it his Request, that such of the Nobility and Gentry who will encourage that Design by Subscribing for the printed Ac∣count thereof, will, at the same time, advance the Money by them subscribed, and he will allow the same in County-Maps as the same shall be finished: and publickly acknowledge their Favor, by printing therewith a List of such Encouragers.

The Proposals may be had gratis at the Shop of Mr. Pen, a Stationer, near the Temple Church.

We whose Names are underwritten do each of us subscribe according to the true Intent and Meaning of these PROPOSALS.

For the Printed Ac∣count-in the Second Proposal	For the County of Salop	For the County of Chester	For the County of Hereford
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