Page:Life of Sir William Petty 1623 – 1687.djvu/109

 the complaints he made of the retention by Dr. Petty of certain maps and plotts, which he asserted ought to have been deposited with the others, with the Surveyor General, should be referred to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, to deal with according to law.'

These maps were the 'originalls,' or first editions, of the maps of the forfeited lands with which, it has been seen, Dr. Petty was himself dissatisfied, and corrected editions of which he deposited in the Surveyor-General's office against the distribution; and also the rough sketches of the smaller 'plott' maps of the allotments as set out to each claimant. All these he claimed to be his own private property; but he offered to part with them at reasonable rates, if his adversaries thought they could be of the smallest practical use to them, or to anybody else.

The day following Dr. Petty's speech Parliament was dissolved. The danger for the moment was over, and he at once made for Ireland. 'Dr. Petty is all at large,' Lord Fauconberg wrote in cypher to Henry Cromwell, who probably feared he might be forcibly detained. He was gone to meet General Fleetwood and confer with him before returning to Ireland. On his way thither he wrote to Henry Cromwell:—

'May it please your Excellency.—Sir Hierome beeing now a very great man and one of ye Committee of Safety, did in a manner command mee to stay here, declaring his pleasure to have mee presented another way, &c. Neverthelesse when nothing else hind'red I came from London without his leave. Your Excellency will have fresher newes by the post than any I can write. "Wee overtooke a Troop sent into Wales for what new purpose I know not. Gr. Henry Pierce and Lieut.Col. Stephens are here at Neston. Majr. Aston upon the way. People take the late transactions very patiently. I hope I shall