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by delegation from the Doctor, were accordingly authorized, by an order of the Lord Deputy and Council, dated 20th of December, 1654 (which occurs also at p. 39, dated 12th of April, 1655), to "cause fitt and able persons" to show them the metes and bounds. This power is given in the same order with that which enables them to take carriages and horses, and to obtain billets or lodgings, paying at rates to be fixed by the commander-in-chief of the district. It will be remembered that many of the surveyors were soldiers, and these powers will be found to correspond with those of the Mutiny Acts of the time, which are retained to the present day, but with the important difference of the civil magistrate being now the arbiter, instead of the local military authority. It may be remarked, that, taking into account the relative value of money at that time and at present, the wages were extremely good.
The third authority, viz., for access to records and papers, is contained in the same warrant as the direction to the commissioners of the civil survey, and was easy of execution.
The fourth, the appointment of a committee of officers, is perhaps the most important of all. Dr. Petty may probably be considered as in reality speaking through them. Their report is not dated till the 25th of December, the day on which the articles were ratified, and it is directed to the points on which difficulties were to be apprehended, viz., first, as already adverted to, the ascertaining what lands were to be surveyed, on which subject the order in council had already issued, enjoining the lists and abstracts to be furnished with all convenient speed. In this recommendation a definite period of thirty days is named, and the approvals of the court of claims and of the Surveyor-General are interposed, to insure correctness. In the order of the 20th the lists were included with other records. They are here looked upon as a distinct and guaranteed authority for the survey. This would fix on the Surveyor-General any delay which might occur on points beyond Dr. Petty's control, or, by making him cognizant of it, prevent his pleading it afterwards as breach of contract on the Doctor's part.
While Dr. Petty saw this difficulty, he was also alive to one still greater, viz., the subdivision among the soldiers of the lands after they were surveyed, to which the remaining recommendations are directed, and there can be little doubt that it would have been better to have viewed it from the first as a separate operation. This, probably, the impatience of the governing power, which was virtually the army itself, would not allow; and in these recommendations, accordingly, we find provisions, which, if fulfilled, would remove the difficulty, or if not fulfilled, would remove all blame from Dr. Petty. In fact, the Doctor's contract was to survey, to map, first, the total and detail of the lands forfeited, which could not be done till they were pointed out to him, and then the portion of each individual, which could not be done till their claims were ascertained; and it will be seen that nearly all his difficulties and heart-burnings arose on these points. The survey itself was rendered comparatively easy by his foresight and arrangements, and it was an operation peculiarly suited to his analytical turn of mind, and methodical habits. The stern determination by which he controlled all under him, and the force of will and energy to which all around him gave way, were, however, severely taxed in the progress of the work, more especially on these latter points.
On the instructions given to Dr. Petty by Mr. Worsley, the Doctor makes no comment. They appear, however, to be very carefully considered and drawn up, and do not justify the
