The life of Sir William Petty, 1623-1687 : one of the first Fellows of the Royal Society, sometime secretary to Henry Cromwell, maker of the 'Down Survey' of Ireland, author of 'Political Arithmetic' &c. : chiefly derived from private documents hitherto unpublished / by Lord Edmond Fitzmaurice.

  • Fitzmaurice, Edmond George Petty-Fitzmaurice, Baron, 1846-1935.
Date:
1895
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The life of Sir William Petty, 1623-1687 : one of the first Fellows of the Royal Society, sometime secretary to Henry Cromwell, maker of the 'Down Survey' of Ireland, author of 'Political Arithmetic' &c. : chiefly derived from private documents hitherto unpublished / by Lord Edmond Fitzmaurice. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

    17/368 (page 11)
    CONTENTS CHAPTER I. 1623-1652. PAGE Birth at Rumsey—Early taste for mechanics and seamanship—Apprentice- ship at sea—Stranded on the coast of France—Studies at Caen—Enters the Royal Navy—Outbreak of the Civil War—Retires abroad—Studies in Paris—Friendship with Hobbes- Correspondence with Dr. Pell Returns to England—Death of his father—Invents a manifold letter- writer, and writes a treatise on Education—Idea of a society to advance arts and science—Partnership with Holland of Deptford—Death of Antony Petty—Agreement with John Petty—Friendship with Boyle— Removal to Oxford—Degree of Doctor of Physic—Becomes Fellow of Brasenose and Deputy-Professor of Anatomy—Case of Ann Green— The dead raised to life—Appointed Professor of Anatomy and Gresham Professor—Oxford Philosophical Society—Appointed Physician General to the army in Ireland—His reform of the medical service of the army —Death of Ireton ........... 1 CHAPTER II. 1652-1658. Arrival in Ireland—Condition of that country in 1652—General Fleetwood Lord Deputy—The forfeited estates—Proposal to transplant the former proprietors and replant with English settlers—The adventurers and the army—Plan to pay the debt with the forfeited estates—A survey necessary—Benjamin Worsley, Surveyor-General—The Grosse Survey —Early distributions of land—Struggle between Worsley and Petty — Rapacity of the officers and commissioners—Henry Cromwell’s mission —The transplantation into Connaught of the native Irish proprietors— Attacked by Vincent Gookin—Petty supports him—A new scheme set on foot—The massacre of the Waldenses—Outburst of popular fury— The transplantation ordered to proceed—The Civil Survey instituted to ascertain the forfeitures—Dr. Petty prepares a plan for the mapping and admeasurement of the army lands—A general map of Ireland — The ‘Down Survey’—Letter to Robert Boyle Conclusion of the