Meafurcmenjt of a Bafe on Hoim flow- Heath, jpi 
extended from thence, in different directions, to the more re- 
mote parts of the ifland, it was .propofed to Sir Joseph Banks, 
that the local circumftances fhould be actually examined ; fo 
far, at leaf!, as to enable us to form home judgement, of the 
beft pofition of the line to be meafured. 
The 1 6th day of April, 1784, being accordingly fixed on 
for the purpofe, 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-weft 
extremity of the Heath, between Cranford -Bridge and Long- 
ford;; andjiaving proceeded from thence through the narrow 
gorge, formed by Hanworth-Park and Hanworth-Farm, we 
fin hired at Hampton Poor-houfe, near the fide of Bufhy-Park, 
at the fouth-eaft extremity ; the total diftance, from the furvey 
of Middlefex, being upwards of five miles. 
On this infpedion it was immediately perceived, that the 
firfi: part of the operation, in order to facilitate the meafure- 
ment, would be, the clearing from furze-bullies and ant-hills, 
a narrow trad along the heath, as foon as the ground fhould 
be fufficiently dry to permit the bafe to be accurately traced out 
thereon. 
T'irft tracing cf the Bafe, and clearing of the Ground. Tab. XVX 
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., inftead of country labourers, in tracing the bafe, p 
-clearing the ground, and aflifting in the fubfequent operations* 
F or, at the lame time that this was obvioufly the moft frugal 
method, it was evident, that foldiers would be more attentive 
to orders than country labourers ; and by encamping on the 
i Vc.l. LXXVf F f f ■ fpot 
