E 747 ] 
J. A new Plotting-Table for taking Plans 
and Maps, in Surveying : Invented in the 
Tear 1721* ky Henry Beighton, F. R. S. 
Infcriked to the Royal Society. 
H E principal End and Defign of Writing or 
Publifhing, Ihould be to convey down fome 
ufeful Knowledge to the reft of Mankind, 
lince it is what we are indebted, to communicate 
our Talents, in return for thofe Helps we have 
received from others. 
Whoever writes on any of the pradical Parts of the 
Mathematics, his chief End and Aim fhould be, at 
one or both of thefe Two Things, Certainty and 
Expedition, wherein confifts the very Life and Beauty 
of a Science. 
That Time and Obfervation have produced better 
Inftruments or Improvements, is a Truth not to be 
denied; but at the fame time that there may be 
new Inftruments, and yet worfe, is equally true : The 
eager Third after, and Humour for Things new, and 
in Vogue, have fometimes been the Occafion of reced- 
ing fome old Inventions, much fuperior to the new 
ones in Pradice. 
What I have to fay on the Subjed, and to make 
what I have been aiming at, fhall be in the 
pradical Part of Surveying, viz. The taking of Plans 
or Maps. And here, perhaps, I may be thought to 
need an Apology, in feeming to propofe a new 
Inftrument, whilft I am blaming others for the fame 
thing. But when I tell you mine is an old Inftru- 
5 E ment 
good 
