Meajiirement of a Bafe on HounflovvJieath, 391 



extended from thence, in different diredions, to the more re- 

 mote parts of the ifland, it was propofed to Sir Joseph Banks, 

 that the local circumftances iliould be adually examined ; fo 

 far, at leaft, as to enable us to form fome judgement, of the 

 , beft pofition of the line to be meafured. 



The i6th day of April, 1784, being accordingly fixed on 

 for the piirpofe, and Mr. Cavendish and Dr. Blagden 

 accompanying the Prefident on this occafion, we began our 

 obfervations at a place called King's Arbour, at the north-wefh 

 extremity of the Heath, between Cranford -Bridge and Long- 

 ford ; and having proceeded from thence through the narrow 

 gorge, formed by Hanworth-Park and Hanworth-Farm, we 

 finifhed at Hampton Poor-houfe, near the fide of Bufhy-Park, 

 at the foutheaft extremity ; the total diftance, from the furvey 

 of Middlefex, leing upwards of five miles. 

 - On this infpeftion it was immediately perceived, that the 

 firfl part of the operation, in order to facilitate the meafure- 

 ment, would be, the clearing from furze-buflies and ant-hills, 

 a narrow tra£l along the heath, as foon as the ground fl^-ould 

 be fufiiciently dry to permit the bale to be accurately traced out 

 thereon. 



VirJ} tracing of the Bafe, and clearing of the Ground, Tab. XVI. 



Chiefly with a view to the more effectual execution of the 

 work, it was judged to be a right meafure to obtain and em- 

 ploy foldiers, inltead of country labourers, in tracing the bafe, 

 clearing the ground, and affifliing in the fubfequent operations. 

 For, at the fame time that this was obviouOy the moil: frugal 

 method, it was evident, that foldiers would be more attentive 

 to orders than country labourers ; and by encamping on the 



Vcj.. LXXV. F f f fpot 



