Mathew Carey was a prominent Philadelphia publisher and economist from Dublin, who came to America after fleeing Ireland because of his radical politics. He first landed in France, where he met American Ambassador Benjamin Franklin, for whom he worked for a time. He emigrated to America in 1784. Franklin talked him up to Frenchman Lafayette, and the latter gave Carey a check for $400 to start a publishing business and book shop.
It took him a while to make a profit, but he came up with the idea of printing a family Bible that subscribers could pay for in 48 weekly installments. He also published America's first atlases. Among many other prominent people of the era, Alexander Hamilton and Tench Coxe called him "friend," and he published their writings as well.
Joshua John Moore and a fellow surveyor from Beula named Thomas Jones were apparently both in need of a job, and were asked by Mathew Carey to survey the route between New York and Philadelphia, and between Philadelphia and the newly established Washington, D.C. The work they completed is heralded as a milestone in the history of travel, the first "Map Quest" in the world. It enabled everyday people to travel back and forth between some of the major cities in America. The route later became I-95!
Moore and Jones were to be paid $1.00 a mile by Carey, and the work was arduous. The men needed help purchasing surveying equipment. I had read that correspondence between Carey and the surveyors was archived at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, which is what led me to hire the researcher in the first place. Below is a transcription of a letter written by Joshua John Moore (it's in his handwriting, not Jones's) to Mathew Carey.
Moore, Joshua John and Thomas Jones,
Letter to Mathew Carey
Philadelphia Feb. 1801
Sir,
The terms which you have offered in your letter of the 13th instant, are such as correspond with our ideas on the subject, and we are willing to engage in the first part of the work on that footing – not doubting but that if the work finally succeeds, and that should our Experience in the first part of it show these terms to be inadequate to compensate us, you will in the future part of it be ready to make such advances in the timing as may appear [illegible].
We have to observe further, that it is not worth our while to purchase the proper instruments with the hazard of having no more use for it than in the Road from New York to Baltimore or Washington. In that account, will you be willing to be at half the expense with us? We wish also, instead of ending at Baltimore, to go on to Washington.
As to Stationary, you will, no doubt, furnish it. Amongst which let us understand that the plans of Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, Washington, [illegible] – the maps of the States through which we pass - the books from whence aid in the Literary description can be had, are to be included. The property yours, but loaned to us.
Taking a liberal view of the subject at large, it cannot fail to strike an enlightened mind, that the consideration, or the more compensatory terms, on which we are willing to undertake the Survey, are not, in themselves, sufficient inducement for the time and labour; should the business end with the first (Experimental) Tour. Consequently that in going into the Experiment, we must (and do) predicate upon a something which may eventually result from the execution. In that light alone, it may be of importance to us, and at the same time can be of no detriment to you, that we appear as the Authors of the work. Deduce whatever consequence that will result from such a measure, we consider that none can be deduced to affect your interest: While, on the other hand, even if the work should be dropped through event of mismanagement, we, as Surveyor, may find some advantage in being known in our profession.
You will see from this that we are perfectly candid; and with pleasure we confess that you have been equally so to us.
We are, Sir,
Your most obed. Servt,
Joshua J. Moore
Thomas W. Jones
As you can see, Joshua John shrewdly wanted the surveyors themselves to get credit for the book. And they were ultimately named as authors, but ironically Joshua John's initials were confused because of the old-fashioned way of writing "S," and he was listed erroneously as "S.S. Moore."
From the road in New York, the two men reported to Carey in June (handwriting is Moore's):
To Mathew Carey
1801 June 29th
New York (Rec’d July 1)
Sir,
We should have written to you before this, had not fatigue of our daily journies rendered repose indispensable after the finishing of our Notes and Traverses. After twelve days driving our way through an immense multitude of Questioners, Observers, laughers, and Critics, who generally thronged around us at every place to our great discomposure at first, but latterly without quite so much effect, we are at length arrived here.
If astonishment would ensure success to a work, we may entertain strong hopes indeed of ours; but it has nearly exhausted our health, as every violent effort naturally must, till the human frame is seasoned to the continuance of it.
We shall commence our return this Day; I hope soon to see you in Philadelphia.
Yours respectfully,
Moore & Jones
Mathew Carey was a hard taskmaster. in early 1802, he wrote the following:
Messrs J Moore and T Jones Philadelphia, January 30, 1802
Gentlemen,
I have waited with patient expectation of hearing from you, and receiving the draft of the road from Philadelphia to Balt Washington. In this delay, [illegible] your failure, I find it impossible to act in any way satisfactorily to myself. Suggest to hear from you by the end of March.
Your [illegible]
Mathew Carey
I don't have have a response to this letter, but I do have a letter from Moore to Carey related to an error that was printed in the book.
To Mr. Matthew Carey
Washington
16 April 1804
I hasten to apprize you of an error which has made its way into the Traveller’s directory, I know not by what means; the road to which I allude not having been in existence when our Survey was made, nor till the year afterwards.
It is in the 22nd Column of the Road from Philadelphia to Washington; and must be connected according to the red lines in the annexed sketch; the part here crossed with red lines must at the same Time be erazed.
I am,
Very respectfully,
Your most obed’t Servt,
Joshua J. Moore
This hand-drawn map was included in the letter. This made clear to me that Moore was the principle artist in drawing the actual maps included in the book.
That's the extent of the letters in the archive. I did get copies of a few letters written by Thomas Jones to Carey, but they were not related to this project. Apparently Jones was selling subscriptions to Bibles to his friends as a side hustle, and possibly along the road as they traveled for the job.
The book was published in 1802. Here are a couple of pages from the book:
The following details about the book is from the Princeton Library:
Upon completion of the surveys, the maps were drawn by the surveyors. They locate crossroads, streams, taverns, and churches and other public buildings, and occasionally private houses. Carey employed four engravers to produce the plates: William Harrison Jr., and Francis Shallus, who did the bulk of the work, and John Draper and James Smither, Jr. The text, also assembled by Moore and Jones, describes the various towns through which the roads pass, including sites of interest to the traveler. The book is very scarce. Carey printed a second edition in 1804, with revised and expanded text, but the maps were printed from the same plates and are identical to those in the first edition, with no alterations.
The directory originally sold for $2.00. Classified ads were at least one way the book was sold:
The Traveller's Directory was reprinted in 2011 in the U.K. because of its importance to the history of travel. It is also available in the U.S., for $17.95, having been reprinted as recently as 2021 and 2022. Amazon gives the following blurb:
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.
This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
You can also buy the original book at antique book sites for $8,500!
I don't know what the surveyors were ultimately paid, but the total mileage covered by the book would have been about $219. I'm not sure if the men were each paid $1.00 a mile or whether they had to share, and whether they received any royalties for the book.
I do know that in 1805, Joshua John sold a sextant to Thomas Jefferson for $50, as that receipt is in the collection at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. I'm guessing he was unloading one he had used on the road, possibly paid for by Mathew Carey.
As we already know, Joshua John's fortunes rose after he finished the road work for "The Traveller's Directory." By 1802, he was named chief clerk of the Land Office whose immediate boss was Secretary of the Treasurer in the Thomas Jefferson administration. In addition to a secure job, he became active in social and political associations in Georgetown. He and Elizabeth also had their fourth and last child there, a daughter named Mary.
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