BOOK III. CHAP. Vll. 673 



makes 2 degrees in twenty- one ydars. At La Vera Cruz (19" 12' N. 

 lat. or about a third of a degree more to the North than Jamaica) in the 

 year 1727, it was only 2° 15' E. In 1746 the variation at Cape 

 Francois (19° 45' N. lat.) was found to be 5" 15'E. Dr. Halley 

 conjeftured three lines of no-variation, or lines vC'here the neei^le does not 

 deviate in the leaft from its true Northern point. The Eaflern or At- 

 lantic line takes place in N. lat. 23 > and increafes very flow, as appears 

 from the preceding examples. The origin of thefe magnetic powers, as 

 well as the caufe of their variations, remains hitherto a myftery ; though, 

 without doubt, they are contrived by the fame infinitely Wife Being, to 

 anfwer fome very important purpofes in the mechanifm, or Inotions, of 

 this globe ; but the afcertaining thefe variations with precifion in the dif- 

 ferent meridians, as it is attended with no great abftrufity, fo it is ex- 

 tremely interefting to corredt navigation, and the right prbjedlion of 

 charts and maps [^]. 



[j'] A regular attention to the courfe of this variation is of the ittmoft importance aifo to landed 

 property in this illand, in regard to the true fixing of boundaries ; their uncertainty having been a con- 

 llant fource of difpute and Htigation ever fince the ifland was firll: fettled. Formerly moll furveys 

 were merely imaginary, fo that it is but of late years that our furveyors have been con drained by 

 mecr dint of penal laws to make aftual furveys; if we fuppofe an aftual furvey made, and the lines 

 duly marked on earth, or on trees, in order for a patent purfuant to the diagram returned, and that a 

 difpute, concerning the true fixings on all fides, fliould happen five or fix years afterwards, it is highly 

 probable, that, on the faireft re- furvey, a moftmateiial difference would be found ; for, ifthefirft 

 iurveyor has not allowed for the variation of the needle, but has taken the magnetic meridian for his 

 guide; or if he has made an allowance, but the fubfequent furveyor fliould not do the like, a confi- 

 derable alteration may be made to the boundary in the courfe of a few years, and the fite of the plat 

 varied, both with refpeft to its Eaflern and Weltern lines. This effed has undoubtedly happened in 

 a muliitude of examples, fince few furveyors here advert to it, or make any fpecification of it, either 

 on the original diagram, or on a re-furvey. 



This is fufficient to fhew, what an equivocal life we make here of the term hormiJaiy, which, inflead 

 of bfeing rendered fo uncertain by the omilfion of furveyors, the decay or deftruftion of marked trees, 

 and other caufes, ought to be perfectly diftindl and obvious, fo as to be afcertained upon the view only. 



It is needlefs to add, the many hardihips which may fpring from this irregularity, to the vexation 

 and dirturbance of the poorer fettlers, who are ill able to contcft their location with a grafping, liti- 

 gious, and opulent neighbour. 



For putting ftop to fuch injuftice, the Icgiflature cannot interpofe too ftrittly ; and, next lo regu- 

 lating the qualifications, duties, and proceedings, ot every fworn furveyor belonging to the illand, it 

 might, perhaps, be attended with veiy happy effefts, it every proprietor ot land, or his agent, fliould 

 be obliged by law, to make an ^m\va\ perambulation round his lines, on a certain day to be fixed by 

 the law, in that feafon of the year which has ufually been experienced the dryeft, and moll conveni- 

 ent for the purpofe, in each refpeilive pariih. By this eafy methoil, the marks might be coaflantiy 

 preferved or renewed, as they are in England, where this is the cuftomary practice for afcertaining the 

 bounds of parities, manors, &c. Re-furveys would beconre unnecefliiry, a«d many expenfive law- 

 fuits be prevented. 



Vol. III. 4 R Juftly 



