MDMD(11): Their Own Futurity

[Dave Monroe]

"They would rather discuss Maskelyne's Affairs, than
what waits in England, in their own Futurity.  Through
his Correspondence, Maskelyne has heard of one
Possibility, tho' 'tis far from a Reduction to
Certainty.  Following the Chancery decision of th year
before, as to the Boundares between the American
Provinces of Pennsylvania and Maryland, both
Proprietors have petition'd the Astronomer Royal for
assistance, using the most modern means available, in
marking these out,-- one of them being a Parallel of
Latitude, five degrees, an Hundred Leagues, of
Wilderness East to West." (M&D, Ch. 17, p. 182)

   "'Then they'll want to send us both again...? 
Won't they.  Eeh,-- a bonny gone-on,-- the two of huz,
in America.'
   "'I don't think so.'" (ibid.)

Well, just in case I can't get back to this before
Monday, did want to mention, foreshadowing, important
plot development, turning point, what have you.  As
always, even what seem to be the most frivolous
chpaters, the most trivial events of a Pynchon novel,
lead to those critical cusps ...  

There will be time, in teh various futurities here,
ours, Pynchon's, Mason and Dixon's, Mason & Dixon's,
to cover the backgrounds, contexts, what have you
here, and I may yet do so before Monday morning, but,
in the meantime, again, do see ...

Danson, Edwin.  Drawing the Line: How Mason
   and Dixon Surveyed the Most Famous Border in
   America.  New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2000.

And note here that, while Dixon defers to luck, Mason,
asserting Dixon's skill instead, remains, of coure,
himself apprehensive.  Okay, well, maybe I'll fire off
a few more quick notes in the next 48 hours, maybe I
won't, but, in the menatime, again, thanks y'all (or
most of you, at any rate) for listening ...

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