50 John Hatchett / George Augustus Walpoole / Alexander Hogg

George Augustus Walpoole (or Walpole) was a British topographer responsible for only one notable cartographic work, The New British Traveller, which appeared in 1784. This was a five-part work and Walpoole was assisted in its preparation by A Society of Gentlemen. The folio atlas contains 23 plates mostly showing 2, though some 4, maps of the English counties with very decorative scrolls top and bottom; Devon was printed under Cornwall (with inset map of the Scilly Isles), consequently a loose copy of Devon will lack the upper scroll and sometimes the map is trimmed to the borders removing the bottom scroll and imprint.  It was inserted opposite the first text page to Cornwall (p.388).

Although most of the maps were engraved by Thomas Conder, the signature of John Hatchett (fl. 1784-1803) is found under the map of Devon. Rather strangely, it appears only after changes were made for the second edition which although dated 1784 was issued c.1790. Many names are added to the second edition, eg Conder’s name is added to the map of Northumberland and John Lodge’s to a view of Dulwich College. Hatchett’s name does not appear in the list of engravers on the title page; however, John Hatchett was apprenticed to Joseph Ellis in 1776 and produced a number of maps including some for James Cook, A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean.¹

The map of Devon is printed on the same sheet and below Cornwall, which is signed in the title panel by Delarochette. Devon is a close copy of the Joseph Ellis map of 1765 (see 46). It also shows the same mines, names St. George’s Channel and uses Seaton as the example of a town holding a regular fair in the Explanation table. Obviously the engraver copied both Cornwall and Devon from Ellis, even to the extent of including Delarochette's name in the top map. Delarochette´s name was erased for the second edition, at which time shields were added to both maps. The scrollwork frame was removed, Hatchett´s name added but Hogg´s imprint left. Given Hatchett's connection to Ellis, he may well have engraved this map.

Louis de la Rochette, or Louis Stanislas D'Arcy De La Rochette was born in 1731 and married Margaret Scalé in 1756 at St. Martin in the Fields and died c. 1802. His name only appears on these maps of Cornwall.

The British Library copy has an incomplete date and other copies inspected have also had part of the date deleted. In 1794 the maps reappeared, the atlas now entitled The New and Complete English Traveller, again prepared by A Society of Gentlemen but revised, corrected and improved by William Hugh Dalton (i.e. Walpoole).

Size 155 x 200 mm.  British Statute Miles 69 to a Degree (24 = 39 mm).

A Modern MAP of DEVON SHIRE, Drawn from the latest Surveys; Corrected & Improved by the best Authorities. Imprints: Engrav’d for WALPOOLE’s New and Complete BRITISH TRAVELLER. above map of Cornwall (CaOS) and imprint: Published by ALEXr HOGG at the King’s Arms No. 16 PATERNOSTER ROW (CeOS) below map of Devon. Scroll borders above and below. No shield.