Add MS 64810

MARDIKE CANAL: 'Carte des Environs de Mardrick (sic), et de Dunkerque pour faire conoitre l'Ecoulement des eaux du Pais à la Mer y compris la Rade, couverte de Ban Bracli, avec les sondes chifrées en Brasses de 5 piés en Basse Mer'; circa autumn 1714. Scale [1:15350]. Scale-bar of 1000 toises (= 128 mm.) French. An official plan showing the Mardike Canal and related works under construction with proposals for the emplacement of certain named French regiments in the vicinity. The map may be associated with a short period of particularly severe Anglo-French tension, and French fears of an outbreak of hostilities, partly caused by the construction of the Mardike Canal, between Oct. and Dec. 1714. See R. M. Hatton, Diplomatic Relations between Great Britain and the Dutch Republic 1714-21 (1950), pp. 63-64. The map extends from Old Mardike to Dunkirk. The use of yellow for the canal works and of yellow and a dotted line for the troop emplacements is in accordance with accepted conventions for works proposed or under construction. Anna Beek's printed map of the same area, 'Plan des Environs de Doncquerque et Mardicq . . .', in Schenk's Atlas Contractus (circa 1700) may derive from a common original, but the printed map is more limited in extent and differs in many details. For another manuscript plan of the same area dating from 1714, see Add. 61342, ff. 135-136v. Purchased from Roger Mason, Cat. 3, item 23, May 1987. The sale catalogue includes a reproduction of the map.

Ink and watercolour on paper. 610 x 700mm.