Cravenstreet, Oct. 29. 1766
I received with the enclos’d Letter an improv’d
Compass for the Surveying of Land, sent me by Mr. Aaron Miller of
New-Jersey, with a Request that I would lay it before the Society
of Arts, which I will do whenever call’d upon for that purpose; I
am, with great Respect for the Society, Sir, Your most obedient
humble Servant
Endorsed: Octor. 29, 1766
New Jersey July 31st. 1765
Mr. Aaron Miller an Ingenous Man in the
Province of New Jersey some time ago contrived a Method of fixing a
kind of Index to the Circumferenter or Common Land Surveying
Compass, which in the Manner of the Second hand to a Clock or Watch
divides each Degree into 60 Equal parts or Minutes, he has lately
very much improved on the first invention, and it’s application to
the Instrument is now so far Perfect, that it does not in the least
incumber the use of it; but so far improves it that a Land Surveyor
may now with Certainty divide each Degree into Minutes, whereas
without this improvement, he was left to divide the Degrees on the
Limb of the Circumferenter into 60 equal parts by his Eye only. The
improvement of the Instrument will no doubt be of use to Surveyors
of Land in General, more Especially in America where the Compass is
constantly used in Surveying Lands; I have advised Mr. Miller to
send one of his to Dr. Franklin who I make no doubt will be ready
to Shew the use of it to the Society for the Encouragement of Arts
Manufactures and Commerce whenever they will be pleased to give him
an Opportunity, and I must beg the favour of you to lay this
recommendation of it before them. I am, Sir, Your Most Humble
Servant
To Peter Templeman Esqr. Principal Secretary to the Society for the
Encouragement of Arts Manufactures and Commerce, London