Page:Petty 1851 The Down Survey.djvu/374

 the land thus conveyed; and Dr. Petty bound himself, if such should not prove to be the case, to buy up and bring in debentures, that is, cancel debt to the amount of the difference.

As to the army, if any soldiers should pay in their pennies, he was, in like manner, to bring in debentures to the amount.

Having so far closed this claim, he proceeded to the authority for redeeming mortgages, and, in like manner, to obtain a legal title, it was necessary the lands redeemed should be conveyed as the satisfaction for debentures, for which he obtained authority by an order of the council of 20th May, which, at the same time, however, limits the extent of land so to be redeemed, to 2000 acres in Munster and Leinster, and 1000 in Ulster. Accordingly, the commissioners set out to him those quantities of land, for the nominal price of a debenture, he having redeemed it from mortgage, as permitted, at his own expense.

Again, despairing of obtaining any sufficient recompense in money for his service as commissioner of distribution, "having observed the treasury so low," he applied to the council for payment in land, which they "cheerfully and unanimously" granted, allowing him to purchase £2000 worth of debentures, and permitting him, as before, to select the lands he should receive in satisfaction of them.

The commissioners, in execution of this, set out to Dr. Petty the following lands chosen by him, viz., in the liberties of Limerick, 1653 1; in the county of Kerry and Parish of Tuosist, 3559 O 31; in the county of Meath, near Duleek, 555 18; and in the same locality, another lot of 250 acres.

The lands thus acquired by Dr. Petty would seem on the whole to amount to nearly 19,000 acres of profitable land, and he closes the chapter by saying he "yett wants satisfaction for above £3000, to make up what was intended him by the above concessions of authority."

This may have reference to the first lands set out, viz., those in satisfaction of the soldier's pence, amounting to £3181 14s. 3d., which, as he elsewhere says, he only "held in pawne," having given security to the amount of £3000 to restore them, or an equivalent if it should become necessary; as no other debt appears to remain unsatisfied, or it may refer to the more exact computation of his claims, given in the seventeenth chapter, which will be adverted to hereafter in the notes on that chapter.

chapter describes the proceedings of Dr. Petty with the committee sitting at Grocers' Hall, for which purpose he was sent to London with letters from the Lord Deputy and council. He found on his arrival much prejudice created against him by an anonymous libel,