384 ROMNEY MARSH:

tering grounds, and the extremely wretched and pitiable condition, which the stock are reduced to, in severe winters, the practice of keeping BREEDING FLOcKs, in so ineli- gible a situation, might be naturally enough censured. It may be aptly enquired, why are not the marshes of Romney, as of Yar- mouth, pastured with fatting stock and rear- ing cattle, in summer, and left, in winter, to the caprice of the elements, without in- jury or alarm to their occupiers? This is plausible, until the subject is duly con- sidered. Where is the fatting and rearing stock to be found, to compass this desireable point? Norfolk is a breeding county, and - its Marshes are comparatively small: be- side, if its own stock are not sufficient, it has a regular and ample supply from the breeding grounds of Scotland. Whereas, Kent has no internal supply, either of cattle or sheep(the cattle of the Weald excepted), and is situated at the veriest extremity of the Island, with respect to the breeding countries. Scotland, the North of England, Wales, the Midland Counties, and the West of England, all lie at a great distance, and have intermediate markets for their stock.