OF SOMERSETSHIRE-«, 287

The river Barl.runs adjoining to this eſtate, but refigns its name on being joined by a ſmall ſtream, about two miles to the Eaſt, called the Ex. This fream takes its riſe in a low ſwampy ſpot of ground, about two miles North-Eaſt of Simonſbath, and runs to the other end of the foreſt; be- comes, when joined by the Barl, a very conſiderable river, and in its paſſage to Exmouth, paſſes by Bampton, Tiverton, and Exeter, to which, and Exmouth, it ſeems to give name, as well as to this extenſive foreſt.

Into theſe rivers, Barl and Ex, a number of ſmall rivulets from every direâion are conſtantly pouring their ſtreams; ahd, ſhould ever a general incloſure be attempted, offer an opportunity of watering ſome hundreds of acres. The water in theſe rivulets ſeems of the pureß kind; it is not impregnated with any noxious mineral, and the ſoil, beyond any doubt, is favourable to vegetation.

On the ſummits ef the bills, and eſpecially on the Weſt and North, are /wamps of many acres extent. They are cut up as turf, at the rate of eight-pence or twelve-pence per thouſand, paid to the tenant of the foreſt, and would be an inexhaufſtible ſtock of fuel to any inhabitants ſettling on the bétter part, as well as of black peat for burning lime, working iron, ſmelting ore, or any manufacture where fire ie uſed,

The roads are in general, as might be expected in ſo large a tra of land without inhabitants, very bad, and in ſome places ſcarcely paſſable. But the whole abounds with ma- terials to make them firm and comfortable, at an eaſy rate, and few bridges would be necefiary.

Excepting a few willows and thorns by the fides of the rivulets, not a tree or a buſh, out of Simonſbath eſtate, is to be ſeen on the whole foreſt; but plantations of moſt kinds need no more ſhelter, nor better ſoil, than is to be met with

here.