that you make the requisite return of what you shall have done in the premises, to me, on or before the first day of June next. SIMON SNYDER, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

N. B. BOILEAU, Aid-de-camp..

To Daniel Sharp, inspector of the 1st brigade, 1st division, Pennsylvania militia.

NOTE. Similar orders were issued at the same time, to all the brigade inspectors within the commonwealth.

DOCUMENTS

ACCOMPANYING THE LETTER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE FIRST OF FEBRUARY, 1816.

(CIRCULARS.)..

Secretary's Office, June 8th, 1815.

SIR--I herewith enclose to you a copy of a resolution passed at the last session of the legislature.

The object of this communication is to ascertain what would be the expence of furnishing copies of such plots or maps, of the courses and distances of the roads, rivers and creeks, (naming them,) which may be deposited in your office. Very respectfully sir, Your obedient servant,

James Duncan, Esq. Clerk

f

N. B. BOILEAU, Secretary.

Quarter Sessions of Adams county.

Secretary's Office, June 8th, 1815. SIR-I have herewith enclosed to you a copy of a resolution passed at the last session of the legislature.

The object of this communication is to ascertain whether you would undertake, and what would be the probable expence, of furnishing a complete map or draft of your county, upon a scale of one mile to the inch, exhibiting the information designated by the resolution, together with the relative height of the range of mountains, as regards the surrounding country, the township and county lines, notices of mineral and salt springs, ore, painters' earth, coal, gypsum, if any within the bounds of your county, and what time it would probably require to complete such map or draft.

Very respectfully sir,

Your obedient servant,
N. B. BOILEAU, Secretary.

Samuel Sloan, Esquire,
Deputy Surveyor of Adams county.

DEAR SIR-Before I make a particular answer to your enquiries relative to the projected map of Pennsylvania, I beg leave to observe generally, that in the present stage of the business I cannot pretend to give you an accurate estimate; but I shall give you the best idea in my power of the probable expence of executing the various parts of the map; and the remarks that follow may be useful in guiding the procedure relative to the publication.

The plan already pursued by the Secretary of State, in relation the county maps, is the most judicious that could have been adopted; and if the county surveys can be collected they will greatly facilitate the business, and make a most excellent map.

But it is presumed that it will be necessary to appoint an agent to superintend this part of the business. If an agent be neces sary, he should be a practical surveyor and engineer, competent to collect the necessary information relative to the extent of the mountains, vallies and other objects of a general nature noticed in the resolution of the legislature; to which may be added the distances along the principal roads, a circumstance of vast utility in maps, though but little attended to.

I notice this subject particularly, from an impression that the map cannot be brought forward without the aid of such a person as I have mentioned; and because if such be necessary it will make a material item in the required estimate. Should my opinion be correct, and no other person in view, I would respectfully recommend Mr. Darley, who I understand has already addressed the Secretary on the subject. Mr. Darley is a native of this state and author of the map of Louisiana from actual survey, now in my hands for publication; and which, together with a recent survey he has made of Pittsburg and its environs, affords very ample testimony as to his qualifications. In case he should be appointed, I have ascertained that he would be willing to undertake the business on being paid at the rate of three dollars per day, for the time employed, he paying his travelling expences. It is presumed that the expence of executing this part of the business would be about 550 dollars.

The execution of all the other parts comes under the scope of my business; and as I devote myself entirely to this branch, I respectfully presume that I can do it more justice than any other person, and beg leave accordinyly to offer my services. The expence will probably be nearly as follows:

Collating the surveys, and making the drawing for the engraver,

about 650 dollars.

Engraving and copper 2,120 dollars.

Paper about $50 per ream,

Printing about 40 cents per map,

Colouring, pasting, sizing, varnishing, canvass, rollers and finishing about $350 per map.

In making this estimate I have been guided by the expence of executing the map of Ohio, which is nearly the same size; and it may be satisfactory to illustrate the subject further by showing the probable expence of the first thousand maps:

1st. Collecting and completing the surveys before they come into the hands of the publisher, N. B. This is exclusive of what may be paid the county surveyors and commissioners.

24. Collating the MSS., maps, and making the drawing for the engraver,

$550

650

Being 87 72 per map.

After which each map will cost $4 40 full mounted.

In regard to the publication, two methods presents themselves: 1st. To execute the map for behoof of the state; or,

2d. To execute it under the sanction and with the aid of the state, but in other respects to be managed similar to other literary and topographical productions.

By the first of these methods the map would belong wholly to the state, for the behoof of which all disbursements would be made and all monies collected, and the balance, subject to the usual commissions, would be state property.

By the second method the state would merely give its sanction and with what assistance would be necessary, or judged expedient to complete the work, and the property would be vested in the publisher.

I could undertake the subject in either way, but I am not suf ficiently acquainted with the views of the state to make any specific overture at present. I will probably be at Harrisburg in the course of a few weeks, when I will do myself the honor of waiting on the Secretary on the subject.

In the mean time I beg leave to send herewith two copies of the map of Ohio, which will serve as specimens of the manner of executing and mounting the state maps. That in the portable form I wish to be presented to the Governor, and that on rollers to the Secretary of State. The map of Ohio is generally considered a handsome specimen of the state of the arts; but I may observe that Pennsylvania, not being crowded with figures, and having elegant mountain scenery, the general appeartnce of the map will be much superior to that of Ohio.

I may add, that if the subject fall into my hands, aided by the power of the state, I think I may without arrogance, pledge myself that I will produce one of the best and most handsome maps that this or any other country can boast."

Before I conclude this letter I may remark, that the result of all my experience in the map business is a firm persuasion, that the geography of the country cannot be established on a proper basis without the aid of the general and state governments. It was in terms of this view that I drew up the enclosed paper last summer. The general remarks, page 6, are expressly to this point, and I am truly happy that the opulent and patriotic state of Pennsylvania have taken measures to set the example. The state of South Carolina, I perceive, are about to follow it, having appropriated fifteen thousand dollars for that purpose. Other".