—

43

From the foregoing table and my general observations, I con- sider, 2

The inclosed lands, parks, and woods to con- Acres. tain about 8— 170,000 The common fields and downs— 2 20,000 The forests, wastes, and commons 40,000 Roads—— 8,977 Total 438,977

In the twenty hundreds, which comprize the county, there are twelve market-towns, and about 200 villages and hamlets. The population of the whole, exclusive of persons occasionally residing, is at least 115,000 souls; of which 35,000 reside in the market-towns, as the following account more particularly shews:

Reading 3 8500 Wallingford 3 1800 Newbury— 5500 Ilsleys— 1500 Abingdon— 4000 Maidenhead- 1200 Faringdon— 2000 Windsor— 3500 Hungerford- 2000 Oakingham— 1700 Wantage— 2100 Lambourn— 1200 10900

——— 24 100

35,000

A great part of the above, as well as the remaining 80, 000, I consider employed chiefly in agriculture; for although there are a few manufactories established in some parts, the proportion of hands employed in them is so very small, when the aggregate is regarded, that I withhold distinguishing them.

This statement of the Population, I trust, will be found(should a more minute inquiry ever take place) not very wide of truth. I have taken every opportunity I well could, to ascertain this ne- cessary information; and in addition to my own inquiries, have been assisted on this subject, with the kind communications, of several candid, and obliging gentlemen, in different parts of the

For remarks,&c.