Query re M&D (was M+D) -- p. 340

[Alan Westrope]

On Tue, 13 May 1997 10:19:31, Richard W. Ahrens wrote:
>Note:  M+D Spoiler, Pages 296-555	
>*
>*
>*
>*
>*
>*
>*
>*
>*
>*
>*
>*
>*
>*
>*
>*
>*
>	In paragraph 1 page 341, TRP, through the voice of the 
>Reverend Cherrycoke, says that Mason (and perhaps Dixon) are going 
>to Lancaster Town, "thirty-five miles' Journey to the West."  I 
>believe that Lancaster is located at approximately 40 degrees 
>02 minutes North by 76 degrees 19 minutes West,  and that it lies 
>some 7 statute miles to the Northeast of the Susquehanna River.

>	I believe that Mason (and perhaps Dixon) started on this 
>trip to Lancaster from John Harland's farm at Brandywine 
>(paragraph 2 page 340), their last location, which is mentioned 
>twice in the last paragraph 7 page 340 of chapter 33. The farm is 
>located (paragraph 4 page 330) "thirty-one miles more or less due 
>West of the southernmost point of Philadelphia."

[additional useful and correct info snipped...AW]

You are correct.  On November 26, 1764, Mason wrote, "Discharged all
hands and left off for the winter season.  Returned to Mr. Harlands
in the Forks of the Brandywine."  On p. 340, TRP puts the "discharge"
in December, which is a minor error, but the Susquehanna crossing in
January '65 appears to be a WHOPPER!  The only reason I can think of
for this circuitous trek is that, since they were just killing time,
the pair decided to reconnoiter their future route, perhaps to see
what kind of ferry service would be available for transporting their
instruments in the spring.

Maybe someone with access to Mason's journal will be able to answer
this; I just have bits and pieces from secondary sources.  It's hard
to imagine an error this big going unnoticed by TRP and his editors
for 20 years, but such things have happened.  I can see the headline:

                CARTOGRAPHIC BONER COSTS PYNCHON NOBEL

-- 
Alan Westrope     PGP public key:  http://www.crl.com/~awestrop
<awestrop at crl.com>
PGP 0xB8359639:   D6 89 74 03 77 C8 2D 43   7C CA 6D 57 29 25 69 23