From Archibald McLachlan   Oct. 6 1843

Oct. 6 1843¹

Notes²

(1) I would say – The Superintendence of the work was committed to the B of Or:³ & the Irish Government – I am not sure that all was committed to the Board –

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(2) – The determining, or Survey of Public Boundaries and the valuation was committed to M^r Griffith –

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(3) Chosen, to carry into practical effect, the undertaking – or, to superintend actual operations – This would distinguish their duty from the General Superintendence of the Board –

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(4) – 30 R.E.⁴ (25 Lieuts & 5 Capts⁵ = 30 total) – this is not strictly correct – there were 3 or 4 officers of Artillery – but let 30 R.E. stand as it is – the error is of no consequence –

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Also there were a few officers on detached duty – such as Trig:⁶ there were only a few – I dont remember the number – I would not mention them – or if you do don’t say how many. I never could find out how many men or officers were employed on detached duty. I have a remark to this effect in the History of the O.S.I.⁷ –

(5) – Any number say a great number the expense is the principal thing!! of civilians – or civil assistants – or a number of civilians as Assistants –

(6) ‘This time’ – 1825 or 1826 – mention the year –

(7) I would join this sentence to that part where the name of M^r G is first introduced, up at (2) – because this sentence (7) stands disconnected rather too much –

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(8) This mention of additional officers on Trig. seems disjointed from what you say of 5 Cap. & 25 L^ts.⁸ I would say 5 Cap 25 L^ts & a few other officers ‘were placed under the immediate control of the officer above alluded to’ –

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(9) These alterations were made – Your statement is correct.

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(10) You are right here

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(11) I remember one offset 13 chains

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(12) I cannot certify the last sentence – in our district the officers merely signed their names – thus : A B C – L^t. R.E. 24 June 1828 – or A.B.C. Cap. R.E. 29 June 1828 [&c]⁹

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General

All that relates immediately to Carbon,¹⁰ would keep by itself – or, all that you say of him should lie in one long sentence.– All you say of M^r G.¹¹ should be kept by itself or, placed in one long sentence – At present Carbon is mentioned in 2 places, & the sense seems unconnected. M^r G. is mentioned in 2 places; the sense here would be clearer by saying all you intend to say of him, to say it in one place – What I mean is, that by mentioning these men twice the sense is not so clear as if all was said in one place.¹²

Perhaps it would be well to say more in your opening paragraph, of the great injury done by the R.E. in the 6 N. Counties,¹³ to private enterprise, or the Civil Surveyor. – Also you might say the enormous expense of the S of 6 N¹⁴ Counties and at this particular time he Sir RP¹⁵ is not justified in continuing or, extending the operation until he looks for this other mode of distribution of the money. However D.¹⁶ would give you a good hint on that point –

You embrace enough for one letter – and said quite enough to show practical men the nature of the thing, & the N^o of hands employed – & that is enough on the present subject. When you come to condemning the Maps – revision and Burning – then you can enter into Tarnation Eloquence –

Try to have it inserted in the first III¹⁷ –

B.¹⁸

Tomorrow’s post will bring you – a new point relating to London –

Friday – I promised in one of the other letters to send you the following tomorrow. But as I have time before post, I send it now. –

2 of our old hands are sent to Southampton – and another old hand to follow in a few weeks – so soon as these three old favourites are gone, then comes the work of destruction in this Division –

Carbon should have had the Bill passed last Session¹⁹ – for London – he has delayed, the cause is his Estimate – but principally his book of instructions for officers in surveying large Towns. I got a peep at this Book – pamphlet 13½ pages – it is not published yet – the copy I have is the proof sheet – notes & corrections in Pencil by Acid²⁰ – the errors are errors of the printer. The Book opens thus–²¹

Sanitary Improvement

Structural Means Within Legislative And Administrative Control.

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App: AI. –

Draught Instructions for an Eng: Off:²² for a S. and Report on the most advantageous Arrangements – for the Improvement of the General Sanitary Condition of the Population of + + + (there is a place left for the name of some town)

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You are requested to make such a survey of the district in which the Town of ------- is included, as may serve to determine the necessary extent of area – which from the natural features of the Elevation – strata &c ought to be comprehended under our directory for drainage, for obtaining the best supply of water for the public as well as private use of the population, for the removal by sewerage from the houses & streets of the Town – & for its productive application, and for effectually & economically carrying out all such other structural arrangements as may hereafter be specified as requisite for the protection of health & Promotion of comfort and prosperity of the Population.

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S-1. You will cause an accurate Horizontal Plan to be made on a scale of 60 inches to a mile – &c &c The Book is a clever manoeuver – an infernal humbug!! It will be laid before Parliamentary Committee &c &c And in the Appendix he quotes several C.E.²³ in Hamburg – Glasgow &c – On Waterworks, Sewerage. He quotes a M^r Thorn C.E. Greenock²⁴ – ‘That he met with opposition from envy & private jealousy’!!!

Never mind, I will take good extracts – you will have them all –

B.

RI MS JT/1/TYP/11/3800-3802

RI MS JT/8/1/4a