ORDNANCE SURVEY. (Hansard, 22 March 1841)

§ Lord Granville Somerset
thought, that before they proceeded with this important measure they should have some statement on the subject.

Sir Hussey Vivian
said, that he was perfectly ready to make a statement if the House wished it, but the only object of the bill was to enable the Ordnance to carry out the surveys which had been commenced.

§ Lord Granville Somerset
thought, as they had no reason to expect that this Bill would be brought on that night, and as there were objections to some of its provisions, it would be better to postpone it.

§ Sir Robert Peel
believed the existing survey was on the scale of an inch to a mile, but that it was intended, that the new survey thould be on the scale of six inches to the mile. This would occasion additional expense; and what he wished to know was, in what proportions the counties now actually surveyed according to the first scale would be burdened? He thought, before anything was done, they should have some estimate as to the expense, and that it would be better to have the surveys of all the counties on the new scale going on at the same time.

Sir Hussey Vivian
said, that a survey on the six-inch scale would occasion an expense of above one-third more than the present survey on the one-inch scale, and, that in the event of its being determined to resurvey those parts of England which had already been surveyed, it was impossible exactly to estimate the expense, but that, of course, the plans and tracings of the old survey would materially assist in those parts of England that had been last surveyed, still, however, no doubt the expense would be great, but that it was a matter of great importance, and great use to the country to have a map on the six-inch scale, whereas, as the right hon. Baronet must be aware, the map on the one-inch scale having been originally intended as a military map, was not of much use, correct and beautiful as the work is, for civil purposes. Where a larger scale was required, the subject had been brought under the notice of the Government by memorials from the Geological Society of Manchester and the Highland Society of Scotland, and it was in consequence of this, and under the impression that it would be of great advantage to the country, that the Government had determined on making the survey of the six northern counties on the six-inch scale.

§ Sir Robert Peel
said, he was not considering the advantage of new surveys on a scale of six inches to the mile, but what he doubted was, whether it would be right to take any step until they be prepared to begin simultaneously the survey of the counties on the larger scale.

Sir H. Vivian
said, that by the end of the next year the Irish survey would be finished, and then they would be able to bring over the surveyors. But in the first 512 instance, he thought it better to survey the counties not yet surveyed.