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Defedt of arainage. 8It may ſeem paradoxical, that the fens of Huntingdonſhire, whoſe ſurface is comparatively high, fhould be worſe drained than thoſe which lie be- tween them and the ſea; the furface of which laſt is confi- derably lower; the natural ſuppoſition being, that water will inevitably fall from the higher to the lower level. But this is the caſe with all the fens that are upon the ſkirts of the high land, and proves only, that the general drainage,

was executed upon principles fu damment ally wron

08

truth, let what will be advanced to the contrary, there was not a proper outfal to ſea, at the time of the general under- taking, to drain the fens near a century and a half ago; and ingenious men employed themſelves, not in obtaining an outfal, as they ought to have done, but in conſtructing large drains and high banks within the boundaries of the fens, the water would force its own paſſage, in ſpite of every impediment, though the diſtance between the fen and the ſea, was from 10 to 15 and 20 miles. This not proving to be the caſe, Ingenuity was then ſet to work, to invent engines for the purpoſe of throwing the water out of the lands into the internal rivers. Still it did not find its way to the fea, but overtopped the banks, or broke them down by the weight of its preſſure. To this moment, inſtead of reforting to the outfal, the engines have been increaſed in ſize, and the banks raiſed ſtill higher, ſo that the water which, if there had been an outfal, wonld have found its way to ſca, and, if left to itſelft, would have reſted on the loweſt of the land, has been forced, in a re- trograde motion, over the furface of the higher lands; and hence the deplorable ſtate of the fens in Huntingdonfhire. It is a ſtate that every one mut ſt läament; whilſt thoſe who have conſtant intercourſe with its inhabitants, muft fecl⸗ ingly fympathize in their occaſional diſtreſſes: for what can be more painful to a generous mind, than to ſee in- duſtrious families, with all their property and effects, at

—2—— 1 For remarks and ac

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dſervations.

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itional