Page:Petty 1851 The Down Survey.djvu/18

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( viii )

the Strafford Survey, which it is now clear was also laid down on maps, but for the sake of contrasting Dr. Petty's work, by some distinctive cognomen, with the Civil and Grosse Surveys. It was indeed, so far as relates to the name, only carrying out the instructions given by the commissioners to the old surveyors, before the Survey was undertaken as a whole by Dr. Petty, as will be seen by a paper printed in the Appendix (p. 388), where they are ordered to "sett downe" certain boundaries "in a toutch plott." It may also be observed, that the name is still used in Ireland among the country surveyors of the old school, for any survey laid down on a map, as distinguished from a mere list of areas, which they also call a survey.

The volume of "Reflections" above alluded to was printed in London, in 1660, and reprinted in Dublin, in 1790. It contains a general account of the principal matters connected with the Survey, and the troubles which it brought upon its author, purporting to be a correspondence between Dr. Petty and a friend, but obviously written altogether by the Doctor himself. It is seasoned with a breadth and drollery which the Doctor intended to avoid in this graver work, but it may, nevertheless, be read with advantage in connexion with our present History.

The Act of Parliament of 26th September, 1653, and the Ordinance, Commission, and Instructions connected with it, in virtue of which the Survey was made, are so frequently referred to in the History, and are so essential to a good understanding of it, that it has been thought desirable to print them in the Appendix. They occur in Scobell's Acts and Ordinances, published by authority, under the Protectorate, in 1658. The volume is not common, but there is a fine copy in the Library of Trinity College.

In illustration of the Civill and Grosse Surveys, a copy is also given of two of the Orders and Instructions of the Commissioners Fleetwood, Corbet, and Jones, from many which are still preserved