esty's Justices." He
had a high-sounding title to his name, but neither knife nor fork!

"April 8: We camped in the woods, and after we had pitched our tent and
made a large fire, we pulled out our knapsacks to recruit ourselves.
Every one was his own cook. Our spits were forked sticks, our plates
were large chips. As for dishes, we had none."

One "blowing, rainy night," George was startled from a sound sleep by
the cry of "Fire! Fire! Fire!"

He sprung to his feet half asleep, scarcely knowing what unearthly sound
awoke him.

"Your bed is on fire, George," shouted the same companion. "Narrow
escape for you."

Sure enough, George discovered that the straw on which he was lying had
taken fire, and, but for the timely warning of his more wakeful
companion, he must have been severely burned.

His diary contained such items as, "The number of acres in each lot
surveyed, the quality of the soil, the height of the hills, the growth
of plants and trees, the extent of the valleys, and the length, breadth,
and course of the streams." On these various topics he reported to his
employer, furnishing him thereby the necessary data on which to base a
judgment on sale of land.

Mr. Sparks, speaking of the thoroughness of his work as a surveyor,
says, "Nor was his skill confined to the more simple processes of the
art. He used logarithms, and proved the accuracy of his work by
different methods. The manuscripts fill several quires of paper, and are
remarkable for the care with which they were kept, the neatness and
uniformity of the handwriting, the beauty of the diagrams, and a precise
method and arrangement in copying out tables and columns of figures.
These particulars will not be thought too trivial to be noticed when it
is known he retained similar habits through life. His business papers,
day-books, ledgers, and letter-books, in which, before the Revolution,
no one wrote but himself, exhibit specimens of the same studious care
and exactness. Every fact occupies a clear and distinct place."

Mr. Everett says: "He soon became distinguished for the accuracy of his
surveys, and obtained the appointment of a public surveyor, which
enabled him to enter his plans as legally valid in the county offices.
The imperfect manner in which land surveys at that time were generally
executed led in the sequel to constant litigation; but an experienced
practitioner in the Western courts pronounced in after years that, of
all the surveys