IN Anno. i681, The Lords of Privy Council having appointed John Adair to make a Survey of the whole Kingdom, and form particular Mapps of the several Shires, in Respect there were no exact ones done for them, did ordain a year­ly Sellary to be payed him for that end, and recommended the design to the Nobility, Gentry, and Burrows, for a futeable incouragement to bear its-charge: But after several Shires were surveyed and exact Mapps of them made up, no thing answerable to the Work, or charge thereof could be procured either from Coun­cil or Countrey: So that the design was in a manner abandoned untill the year 1686 That the Parliament then sitting were pleased to consider that exact Geographical Mapps would be both honourable, and usefull to the Inhabitants, and that true Mapps and Descriptions of the Sea Coast would not only be Honourable and useful, but most necessary for Navigation, and might prevent many Ship-Wracks, and great losses oc­casioned by the want of them in time past. And therefore did form and pass an Act in favours of the said John Adair, ordaining him forthwith to goe on in the design, and for bearing the charge of Land Mapps did Authorize and impower the Heretors in each Shire to meet and impose upon their valued Rent, such a Sume as they should think proper to bear the charge of the work, to be uplifted by the Collectors of the Supply, and by them payed in to the said John Adair, when surveying or having surveyed their respective Shires: But this part of the Act being founded only upon a recommen­dation to the Heretours was not put in Execution, albeit several Shires were surveyed, with respect to the said fond, by the said John Adair with great Travel and Expence: Likewise for bearing the charge of Navigating the Sea Coast, and Isles, and making [Page 2] Mapps of them, one shilling Scots was imposed upon each Tun of all Ships and other Vessels belonging to this Kingdom, and two Shillings Scots upon each Tun of Forraign Ships yearly for the space of five years next after the date of the Act, to be uplifted by the Collectors of the Customs at the several ports, and by them payed in to the said John yearly at Mertimass. But the present War which shortly followed after, the ne­gligence of some Collectors, and the fraud of others, rendered this part also of very little or no account, albeit John Adair in obedience to the Act of Parliament did Survey and Navigat the Sea Coast from Sunderland point in England to Buchanness, and delineat the same in eight large Mapps including the Firths and Rivers of Forth and Tay: In which are laid down all the Ports, and Creicks, Headlands, Bayes, Islands. Rocks, Sands, Shelves and other hazards, with the marks by which they may be escaped, their true bearings and distance, the deepings, with the best and ordinary places for Anchorage. Which work beside his hazard and travel coast above 300 pound starling: and to ren­der the survey true, and exact, he did buy and bring from Abroad Mathema­tical Instruments and other necessars, to the value of 100 pound starling, also he brought over from Holland one Moxon an engraver to whom he payed 70 pound starling which in all will be three times as much as was got from the Collectors upon the account of the Tunnage.

After all these discouragements, and disappointments some three years agoe seve­ral Noblemen, and Gentlemen from a sense of the usefulness of the said design, pro­posed the cutting of the Mapps already done, and Printing of them, with a Descrip­tion be way of Subscriptions and made account that 600 or 700 subseribers might be got at 20 Shill. starling each and the one half being payed per advance might bear the Charge, But this project succeeded no better than the former, for of that number not one hundred was procured, which being of no proportion to the design the money up­lifted from the subscribers (except very little) was let remain in the hands of those who received it, and may be returned upon giving up the Receits granted for it. So that the Advance made upon that head, as the buying Capper plates cutting of Mapps bringing home Paper and gathering in the Accounts of natural curiosities and monuments of Antiquity through the Kingdom, for making up the descriptions, was performed at the expence of the said John Adair, who by it, and what he had bestowed formerly hath not only spent what money he could procure of his own, but also hath contracted considerable debt, so that he is rendered incapable to proceed any farther in so good a work.

This is humbly Represented that his Grace his Majesties Commissioner, and High Court of Parliament may know and consider the state and condition of a design which truely concerns the Honour and Interest of the Kingdom though more particularly of these who travel by Sea, as many sadd and dayly examples occasioned by the want of exact Mapps and Descriptions of the Sea Coast and Isles of this Kingdom do testifie.

As to the progress made in the Work, with an Account of the Money bestowed upon it, and what in modest Computation it will yet coast before it can be perfected. The Report of a Committe of the privy Council lately appointed to examine the same lying subscribed in the Clerk of the Councils hands, may not only be seen, but likewise the Mapps, and accounts themselves are ready to be shewn to any who shall call for them.