Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-02-16
MAP Or VIRGINIA.
From iAe Petersburg Inteaigeacer.
Aiessts. Dickson q Pescud.

nave therefore 10 request tina, Won will
insert It ~ your next paper A rough
draught Of the MAP therein referred ~
mas been s'ihmii,cdto the inspection ofthe
Msm0ers of the General Assembly, rho
nave generally expressed their appreciation
OF the work, and offered their friendly In
terpos'tion TO insure its publication. In
consequence OF which an ingenious and
competent artist has been engaged tn en-
grave the map, which fiatser myself vii,
ne executed IA style not inferior To an 9
similar work III the United Stares.
Proposals will be handed you in few
days.
ssS lam yours &c. Sc.
WILLIAM PRENTiS.
Petersburg, Feb. 6. l9o4.
DEAR STA,
THE Mar Of VIRGINIA. to which
you have Ient So considerable cssistanc.
10 the collection OF some OF The necessa.,
materials, is nearly completed. Far the
1orwardnsss ofthe work, | am indebted to
MT. lillian Davis, whom have found 10
oea neat, correct and intelligent draughts-
man.
In making to our cauntrymen rour pro.
PosaIs tor the publication OF this Man. il
VIII BE- proper 10 mention, in a few cords.
the data npon which iTis founded. These
ought 10 be known, in order that some
previous Judgment may be formed Of IFS
pretens;ons to public attention and encou-
rasement, and also, tibet il may nor be
supposed, greater degree of accuracy is
assumed, than the information possessed
will warrant. For this purpose, it may be
stated f,Is
'st That the latitude and longitude Of
severed impartanr points. unascertained
I'll OF late, afford so u1aay essential reuui
sites in ths formation OF a Map, ard can
not fail, as Tar as they extend. 70 conluc.
10 greater accuracy.
IDLY. That plots Of Counties furnished
by their surveyors, particularly. By thos.
OF The tfans-inontane and middle paris os
the state, have been collected with much
labor, and very considerable success -
that surveys al.o, which have been made
OF the boundaries of counties, OF the cour
ses OF rivers, Of the beariags of NOUN
tainsi and OF the distance of places. have
been sought for with the greatest dill
genes, and obtained except in a few in
stances.
3dly. That the exposure OF the frs; de-
Iineation to the aninadyersion of the r :
representatives. in Richmond, whose local
Information may be presumed to be cor
rect, has afforded the means OF retrench-
ing many errors, and of supplying def
cheney in materials.
Lastly. he completion ofthc bounda-
ries of the state, together with the labors
OF those who have preceded in the same
work, furnish principles for geographical
combination, which lead, in some cases, to
useful results.
Such isthe ground work Of the Map
It's size, which viii be feet inches in
length, and , feet 8 inches in breadth, viii
be found think, sufficiently suited 10 The
magnitude Of the state.
H:th respect to the deiineation, it is OBJ
served, that accuracy, so far as the present
state ofthe graphicalkpowledge f,his
country could be obtained, and will per
init, has been studiously aimed at. The
degree of correctness Of which the Map
may boast, is greatly short Of that which
might be attained by the interpretation oil
The legislature of Virginia. It's only her
fiat, which can give existence TO perfect
iy Just picture OF hesrseif. In the mean
time, hatteT myself, that the representa-
ton which IS no~ proposed 10 be exhibit
ed. imperfect as it may be in some re.
speets, will still be found more satisfaeto-
ry, than any which hath hitherto appear
ed; and will aid in the promotion Of that
geogrsphicalknowledgc, which is the most
interesting to every virgnian.
/ am, dear Sir,
Yours, very respectfully,
J. MADISON.
Williamsburg, Feb. 1, 1905.