For remarks and additional obſervations.

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the eye of a ſtranger, as a very noble field of improvement. Within ten miles of the capital, and in the midſt of a country, which, in point of cultivation, is almoſt wholly a garden, it is wonderful that means have not been fallen upon, to convert this extenſive waſte into arable land; and it is the more to be regretted, as it could be done at po great expence, the ſoil in general being of an excellent qua- lity, and capable of producing crops equal to any in its neighbourhood. It is faid, that twelve contiguous parifhes, have an intereſt in this extenſive common. To the poorer claſs there, the right of paſturage, may be a matter of ſome little conveniency as well as emolument; but the ad-— vantages that would redound to the community at large, from its improvement, would, it is obvious, greatly over- balance any trifling private convenience of that kind. In regard to the right of cutting fuel and turf, which the poor än the neighbourhood of thoſe commons alſo enjoy, it has been proved in a variety of inſtances beyond a pofſi- bility of doubt, that the exerciſe of ſuch a right is not half ſo beneficial to the poor, as their conſtant labour being required in the cultivation and improvement of the ſame foil. A portion of their wages, will purchaſe fuel of an- other deſcription, ſuch as coals or wood, at a much cheaper rate.

To enter into any minute detail, of the means of im- proving this common, may not at preſent be neceſſary. But in the mean time it may be proper to ſuggeſt, whether in the event of a diviſion of this extenſive waſte, this pur- poſe would not be as well and more quickly promoted, under leaſes of reaſonable endurance, ſubject to a pro- greſſive increaſe of rent, than on any other plan. Such a mode of payment of rent, is not only natural upon new lands, but is the beſt and moſt effectual ſtimulus to in- duſtry. The exertions of a number of men, ſetting out upon a bufineſs of this kind, and improving upon the

knowledge

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