306 Mr Galbraith on the Geographical Position of 



Indeed it never could have occurred to me to suspect, that 

 the positions of such important sea-ports as that of Ayr, and 

 others adjacent, were erroneous to the extent of 2' or 3' of la- 

 titude, and 8' or ] 0' of longitude, had I not been led to examine 

 the subject somewhat attentively, from having noticed similar 

 errors in Arran last year, where, in the maps of Arrowsmith, 

 Wyld, &c., the whole southern shore of Arran is placed about 

 5' north of its true position, and it is not improbable that the 

 whole island is. 



These instances justify the call that has been made to resume 

 the Trigonometrical Survey of Scotland, and there is now every 

 prospect that it will be duly attended to, so that the positions 

 of different important points in this part of the island, as well 

 as many others elsewhere which I have not had an opportunity 

 of examining, though equally , or more erroneous, will be 

 speedily corrected. Chiefly, 1 believe, to the exertions of the 

 more influential members of several societies belonging to Scot- 

 land, the immediate resuimption of the Trigonometrical Survey 

 is owing, though others certainly had previously lent their 

 powerful aid in the application. 



In the report to the British Association which met at Liver- 

 pool in September 1837, it is stated that " the Association 

 made application soon after their meeting at Edinburgh" (in 

 1834) " for the resumption of the Trigonometrical Survey of 

 Scotland, — a work imperiously called for by the imperfect state 

 of our best maps and charts of that part of the island, either 

 for the purposes of geology or navigation. It is needless to 

 give farther proof than that parts of several of the larg-e islands 

 at the mouth of the Clyde are laid down several miles out of 

 their true position. The magnificent scale on which the Sur- 

 vey of Ireland is now carrying on, emboldened many scientific 

 societies of Scotland this year (1837) to memorialise govern- 

 ment on the subject." The report goes on to say, " I am happy 

 to add that the applications have been successful, and the trian- 

 gulation of Scotland will commence early in 1838.'" It tliere- 



informed that Mr L. has been forming a chart of those coasts, into which he 

 has introduced many corrections, and that, it is to be regretted, has never 

 been published. 



