Poem

The following poem was excerpted from "To Arthur Burns, on his New Treatise, entitled, GEODASIA IMPROVED: A Poem", written by Thomas Sadler, Whitechurch, 1771. Mr. Sadler was a devoted student of Burn's, a leading surveyor of the day. The poetic style, like much of the language of the time, was ornate. The Century Dictionary of 1889 describes "Geodasia": Formerly, the art of land surveying in general, but now restricted to that branch of applied mathematics, distinctively called Higher Geodesy which investigates the figures and areas of large portions of geographical positions and the azimuths of directions, the general figure of the earth, and the variations of gravity in different regions, by means of direct observation and measurement."

Survey the Whole, nor seek slight faults to find,

When Nature moves, and Rapture warms the Mind.

SCIENCE! thou Daughter of the Skies, 'tis thine

To make Perfection in her Beauties shine;

Thy darkest Clues endear the anxious Mind,

When Study labours thy great Worth to find:

In thy rich Stores our lab'ring Thoughts absorb,

Measure the Earth, and each celestial Orb.

Behold yon Gardens, Trees, and shady Bow'rs,

So often chequer'd with delightful Flow'rs;

Behold yon Buildings, high ascending Spires,

Yon Water, Castle, Mountains, stately Tow'rs,

Yon curing Brook, and cool expanding Shade,

Whose winding Course surrounds the fragrant Mead;

All their Dimensions we with Ease impart,

By GEODASIA, and the Rules of Art.