To James Madison from Andrew Ellicott, [4 February] 1790
From Andrew Ellicott
[4 February 1790]
| Latitude | *Longitude, from the Meridian of Philadelphia |
|||||||
| ° | ′ | ″ | ° | ′ | ″ | |||
| Fort Erie | 48.. | 53.. | 17 | N | 3.. | 39.. | 40 | W |
| Fort Niagara | 43.. | 15 | — | N | 3.. | 47 | — | W |
| Falls of Niagara | 43.. | 4.. | 25 | N | 3.. | 49.. | 30 | W |
| West end of Lake Ontario | 43.. | 18.. | 52 | N | 4.. | 31 | — | W1 |
RC (DLC: Jefferson Papers); Tr (DLC [in Series 6, Notes on Exports and Navigation]). JM copied the RC and passed it along to Jefferson, who docketed it “Latitudes.” At the head of the Tr, JM wrote: “Copy of a paper communicated by Andrew Ellicot, New York, Feby. 4. 1790.”
1. Ellicott made these measurements while carrying out a commission from the U.S. government to survey the western boundary of New York. On 15 Jan. 1790 he reported to President Washington that “the Geography of the Country about the Lakes [is] very erroneous.… A corrected Chart of the west end of Lake Ontario, The Strait of Niagara, and part of Lake Erie comprehending the whole British settlement of Nassau shall be handed to your Excellency as soon as I come to New York” (Mathews, Andrew Ellicott, pp. 70–72).
2. JM added the following note to the RC, which he also incorporated in the Tr: “—The magnetic variation was 1°.5′ W. at W. end of Lake Ontario in Novr. 1789 and 34 Miles & 94 perches East, and 11 miles & 140 perches S. of W end of Lake Ontario it was 0°.36′ W. and at Fort Erie it was 0°.0′.0″.” At the foot of the RC, JM wrote: “N. York—Recd. from Mr. Ellicot Feby. 4. 1790. / J. M. Jr.”