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G E N E
A G R 1 S
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R A I. V I E W
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THE COUNTYOF
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6 E N E RAIL., vV I E W
O FE I H R
A G R I C h
OFE TIIE COUNT OF
R
NN I1 N G D 6 N.
AND OBSERVATIONS ON THE MEANS OF ITS IMPROVEMENT.
W 1 T H A N
A P P E N D 1 X;
69O N TA I N I N G
AN ACCOUNT OF THE ADVANTAGES TO BE DERIVED FROM AN IMPROVED OUTFALAT THE PORT OF LXNN; AND ANSWERS 10 LIIIE OBIECIIONS WIHHICH II IS SUPPOSED WIILLI. BE URGED AGAINST THAT MEASURE.
DRAWN UP FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE BOARB OF AGRICULTURE AND INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.
BVYX GFEORG E M A X W E L. I, Or ELE F ION, NEaR STILLON.
I O N PD O N: PRINTED BV J. NIC HO L. 5 . M. DCC. XCIII...ee

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To Me R E A D E R.
THE following valuable paper, reſpecting the preſent ſtate of huſbandry in the county of Huntingdon, and the means of its improvement, was drawn up at the deſire of his Grace the Duke of Buccleugh, a member of the Board of Agriculture, who requeſted Mr. Maxwell to lay before the Board his ſenti- ments on bthe huſbandry of the different counties in his neigh- bourhood. It is now printed, in addition to Mr. Stoné's Obſfer- vations on the ſame ſubject, for the purpoſe of its being circu- lated there, that every perſon, intereſted in the welfare of that county, may have it in his power fully and deliberately to con-— ſider, the obliging communications of both theſe gentlemen. It is therefore requeſted, that any remark, or additional obſer- vation, which may occur to the reader, on the peruſal of the following ſheets, may be tranſmitted to the Board of Agricul- ture, at its office in London, by whom the ſame fhall be pro- perly attended to; and, when the returns are completed, an account will be drawn up, of the ſtate of agriculture in Hunt- ingdonfhire, from the information which the Board will thus have accumulated, which, it is believed, will be found, greatly ſuperior, to any thing of the kind, ever yet made public.
The Board intends to follow the fame plan, in regard to all the other counties in the united kingdom; and, it is hardly necefſary to add, will be happy to give every afſiſtance in its Power, to any perſon, who may be deſitous of improving his
breed of cattle, ſheep,&c. or of trying any uſeful experiment in huſbandry.
INTRO-

——õÿ———
Kil
Skirt. ſoll, of loc
Cli conf coum
it is i
Stat ſpeakin in the! diffuſed farms, up to/ moſtly
At
We T

17
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1. 1 N I R 0 D U CITION.
Soil./„HE county of Huntingdon poſſeſſes ſeveral diſ-
tinct ſorts of ſoil, viz. 1. Fens or Moor; 2. Skirty Land; 3. Meadow Land; 4. Strong deep ſtapled ſoil, either confiſting of clay, or of gravel, with a mixture of loom; and, 5. Thin ſtapled light clay.
Climate.— The climate, on the whole, is pretty healthy, confidering that all the Eaſt or North-eaſt part of the county is ſkirted by the fens, and that but a ſmall part of it is well ſupplied with water, either from ſprings or rivers.
State of property, Sc.— The old incloſed part is, generally ſpeaking, in the hands of large proprietors; but property in the new incloſures, and the open fields, is pretty much diffuſfed. There are many, of what may be called large farms, in the incloſed part of the county, viz. from. 200. up to. 500. per annum. In the open fields the farms are moſtly under H. 150. and down to. 5O0. per annum.
As to the mode in which the land is now cultivated, we fhall take them in the order above-mentioned.
B 1. The
For remarks and additional obſervations.

For remarks and additional obſervations.
1. The E E N 3.
General hiate of the fens.— The fſen-lands in this county yield but little profit, on account of the great defect in the drainage. They confiſt of about 44,000 acres(including lakes), and form about one ſeventh part of what is called the Great Bedford Level, of which more than 50,000 acres are wholly unconnected with the county now under confideration, as they are drained by a different outfal, as I Hhall have occaſion to notice hereafter. Of theſe 44, 000 acres, about eight or ten thouſand may be called produc- tive; but even theſe are kept, if kept at all, from inunda- tion, at an expence which is equal to near one third part of the rent, and are at all times in a ſtate of extreme
hazard.
Mode of management.— The precarious ſtate of the fens, occaſioned, from the time they were drained, the introduc- tion of a mode of management that was barbarous in the extreme, for nothing was thought of, but getting as much as poffible out of the land, and truſting to a general drown- ing for reſtoring its goodneſs; but now the mode of ma- nagement commonly practiſed, is, firſt, to ſet apart ſome given proportion of the farm, which is held facred from the plough; then, to have one third part of the remainder under the plough; and two thirds in graſs; keeping the whole of that remainder in a fuccefſion of tillage and graſs. That portion which is immediately under the plough, is divided either into three or four ſeaſons for occupation, as follows:
If into three— iſt year— pare and burn, after fix, ſeven, or eight years graſs, and coleſced bruſhed in upon the firſt plowing, but little or none ſuffered to ſtand for a crop, it being fed off in the winter with ſheep; and then generally after one plowing ſowed the 2d year with oats, which are generally ſo rank, as to make it impracticable to have graſs
ſeeds,
—õ——:—:—;’’:::—
—
———

————
ſeeds with them; 3d year, wheat, or oats, with ſeeds, to remain until it comes again into a ſucceſſion for tillage. If three crops of corn are taken, oats are ſowed, after tlie wheat, or wheat after the oats, and ſometimes oats or bar- ley, and the land is laid down as above.
For this alteration of the fen ſyſtem, the county is, in a great meaſure, indebted to the judgement and ſagacity of the late Mr. John Wing; and the reader will be ſo good as to fuſpend his opinion of it, for the preſent.
Graſs-ſceds.— The graſs-ſeeds formerly uſed, were the common red clover, with hay ſeeds, or more commonly rye-graſs; but white clover, called here Dutch clover, has been of late years introduced, and is much approved of, not only for its natural durability, but becauſe it is found to bear drowning, which is not the caſe with common red clover.
Sheep and cattle.—Sheep are bred in the cultivated parts of the fens of Huntingdonſhire, and theſe are moſtly of the Lincolnſhire ſort, and not the beſt of their kind. A few cows are kept for the dairy, the produce of which are generally reared; but theſe likewiſe are but ordinary; be- ing a ſort of mixture between the worſt of the ſhort- horned and long-horned kinds. Mares are uſed for all pur- poſes of agriculture; and every farmer breeds from them as many as he can, ſelling the colts off at two years old, and as many of the fillies as can be ſpared, with proper attention to the filling up of his team, as the old ones wear off. Oxen are wholly inapplicable, for they could not walk upon the furface of the fen land without being bogged.
It will be eafily underſtood, that a farm thus managed, is pretty full of live ſtock; and it is a pleaſure to obſerve, that every ſpecies has improved of late years.
B 2
For remarks and additional obſervations.

For remarks and additional
obſervations.
————— t%⁊+ N*—*—
Mode of plowwing.— The fen men are the moſt expert of any in the world at plowing, no ſuch thing as a driver being known, although they frequently plow with three mares, which are always abreaſt, and guided by a line; and it is incredible how faſt the bufineſs proceeds. The ſort of plouglr for paring, was originally introduced from Holland, and has only one handle; from the hinder part of which projects a kind of crutch, horizontally diſpoſed, and upon this the holder bears with his left hand, walking upright. From the ſame han« another crutch projects at right angles with the former, but confiderably lower down; and this the holder uſes occaſionally with his right hand, for the purpoſe either of keeping the plough ſteady, or aſfiſting to turn it at the lands-end. Inſtead of foot or wheel, to fupport the beam of the plough, they uſe what is called a ſcaife, which is a circular plate of iron, turning ng ka J0l) the edges of which are ſteeled, and together with the edge of the fhare, are Lern as ſharp as a penknife, by means of a file, which'“ the plow- man carries with him for that purpoſe. This er call the whole Dutch; they have likewiſe what they call the three quarter Dutch, and the half Dutch plough, differing from the former in the breadth and ſtrength of the fhare; and theſe two ſorts are uſed for the ſeed-furrow, as it is called, which means that plowing upon which the ſeed is brufhed in, if coleſeed, and harrowed in, if corn. The latter is uſed with a foot inſtead of a ſcaife, and is equally adapted for plowing ſtrong high land, on which it is frequently uſed upon the edges of the fens. A fen plow- man has been known to win a conſiderable wager, by plowing an acre of high land, without a fingle balk, keep- ing his mares always in a trot, even at the land's ends, thoſe being the two conditions of the bet; a proof, not only of his own expertneſs, but that his plough was con- ſtructed upon true principles of mechanicks. The common rate of plowing is about two' ſtatute acres with the paring plough, and about one acre and a half with the ſced plough
ber day.
—=— 4

—
11
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
Ob
dſervations.
Id
14
itional

For remarks and additional
obſervations.
f 12 1
the mercy of the weather, and liable to be overflowed in windy weather at ecvery moment?
General ſtate f labour, Sc.— The cultivated part of the fens of Huntingdonſhire, is comparatively ſo ſmall, as to have little or no effect, on the price of labour, in other parts of the county, notwithſtanding there are very few habitations for labourers within its limits; for the harveſt generally comes in after the hurry of the high land harveſt is over; and a great part of what is really cultivated, is held by farmers not reſident in the fens, as appendages to their high coun- try farms, in the ſame pariſfhes; and of courſe, ſo far as they are concerned, the bufineſs is carried on by their con- ſtant labourers and own hired ſervants; and the waggons, carts, and other implements, except ploughs, are generally the ſame in both places;—but thoſe farmers who reſide in the fens, make uſe of no carts, but light waggons, which are drawn by two mares abreaſt, with a pole, one ſide of the waggon being made of looſe boards, which are taken out, when it is wanted for the carriage of dung; and this the driver commonly ſpreads upon the land from the wag-
gon, it either having been firſt thrown into large heaps in
che yard, or carried into ſtill larger heaps to ſome inter- mediate ſpot.
Rent.— The average rent of the fens in Huntingdon- ſhire, is about 105. per acre, ſfubject to tithes, reckoning only upon the cultivated part, and excluding, therefore, about three fourths of the whole quantity, which may probably produce about one ſhilling or eighteen-pence per acre on the average; but l know that very many acres yield no rent at all. The lowneſs of the rent, is to be ac- counted for, by the uncertain ſtate of the drainage; and when it is confidered, that the ſeed time depends entirely upon the weather, inſomuch that l have known the land
7 ſowed

ſowed as late as the middle of June; it muſt follow, that an improved drainage will neceſſarily bring about a great increaſe of rent, even in the cultivated parts; and more eſpecially, as the advantage of applying a great part to the breeding of ſheep and other cattle, is pretty well under- ſtood, and generally practiſed.
2. Ihe SKIRIY LELANDS.
We come now to ſpeak of a-kind of land, that appears peculiar to thoſe counties which border on the fens; and: this may very properly be confidered, as an almoſt imper- ceptible link, in the great chain of Nature, holding toge- ther two diſtinct and different ſorts of ſoil.—lt is neither moor, clay, gravel, nor loom; but partaking of the pro-
perties of moor, and whatever ſoil is ſevered from the fens,
by that we are now ſpeaking of. In the diviſion of the fens into diſtricts, for the purpoſe of draining them by, engines, a great deal of this has been neceffarily included within the banks, and is, generally ſpeaking, rich, grazing land, the furface of which being confiderably higher, than that of the fen, properly ſo called, it is out of the reach of floods, and is liable to be moſt damaged by being too much drained. But the generality of this land, is not in- cluded in the drainages above referred to; and this is pre- ciſely that fort of property, which is more annoyed than
any other, by having the waters from the lower lands forced over its ſurface, by means of mechanical inventions,
and which therefore, in its preſent ſtate, is of little or no value. I preſume there may be about 5000 acres of this fort of
land in the county of Huntingdon, which are certainly a-
ſtriking object for improvement.
3. MADOW
For remarks and additionall
Obléeérvatlonss,

. Clervations.
7 m 1 112 Kor remarks and additional
3. MEaDOW LANDS.
The OQuze and the Nene, are the only two rivers, which communicate with the county of Huntingdon, the former falling into it near St. Neot's, and winding through ſeveral pariſhes to Huntingdon, and from thence through ſeveral other pariſfhes into the Great Level of the fens, which it enters at or near Erith; and the latter dividing the Northern part of Huntingdonfhire from the county of Northampton. The borders of theſe rivers, are fine rich meadow land, which cannot eaſily be rendered more pro- ductive than they are, and perhaps contain about 1000
actes.
4. H. DEED STAPLED LANPS.
Beyond the Skirty lands of the fens, and the meadows above-mentioned, we come into a ſtrong fertile country, compoſed either of a deep clay, with a mixture of loom, or a deep gravelly ſoil with loom.— Great part of this land ¹s ſtill in an open field ſtate, where each particular occu- Pier, is neceſſarily tied down, to whatever courſe of tillage is purſued, by the pariſh at large. This, on the beſt of the land, is a four ycars' courſe, viz. Iſt, fallow; 2d, Wheat or barley; 3d, beans; 4th, barley or wheat; and
there are ſeven common fields in the county, which are
managed in the ſame way.
5. he EIIIN SLEAPI. ED SOILIS.
On the more ordinary land, as well in the places now under confideration, as in the ſtill leſs fertile parts of the county, a three years' courſe is uſed, viz. Iſt, fallow; 2d, wheat, or barley; 3d, beans, or oats: or, in ſome caſes, Iſt, clover; 2d, wheat; 3, beans and peaſe, or oats: where the land is fit for turnips, Iſt, turnips; 2d, barley or Wheat; 3d, Wheat, if after barley; and beans, if
atter

intry, oom, land Ccu- 4 1 Uage eſt of 2, and
dare
after wheat. I muſt confeſs myſelf ignorant of the ave- rage produce from the open fields, having never been con- cerned in their culture. The crops, however, generally appear to be pretty good; but the great queſtion to be
aſked, is, whether they are obtained at ſuch a given rate of
expence, as inſures as much profit to the landlord and
tenant, as is capable of being had from the land; and this,
one may venture to fſay, is not the caſe; for, independent of the defect in ſyſtem, and of the great inconvenience that attends the diſperſed and intermixed ſtate of property, the buildings, are in many caſes, inconveniently ſituated for the occupation of the land; and, of courſe, whatever is pro- duced, muſt be had at an expence, conſiderably beyond what would be neceſſary, in caſe the contiguity and conve-
nience, which generally attach themſelves to incloſed farms, were eſtabliſhed.
1. PFRESENT
0
For remarks and additional obſervations.

1. PRESENT SIAIE OF IHE GCOUNV.
For remarks and additional Obſervations.
Extent of tbe county.— The general ſtate of thie county at preſent, is nearly as follows: it conſiſts of 106 towns and hamlets, each of which(according to the beſt information I have been able to collect), after deducting the fens and ſkirty lands, may contain, on an average, about 1, 500 acres, making in all nearly 160,000 acres; which, when added to the 49,000 acres before-mentioned of fen and ſkirty lands, the county may be ſuppoſed to contain in all about 210,000 acres, including woodlands. Other calcu- lations, however, carry its extent confiderably higher.
Incloſed aiſiricts.— Of the 105 towns and hamlets above- mentioned, forty-one are wholly incloſed, and alſo a very conſiderable portion of the others; hence, after a deduction for woodlands, it may fairly be preſumed, that about one half of the high land parts of the county is unincloſed: The remaining half being incloſed, is conſequently in a ſtate that enables the occupiers to uſe it in the moſt ad- vantageous manner that the ſoil admits of. To ſay that the beſt poſſible management is practiſed, would be going a great deal too far; but the county of Huntingdon, may fairly put in its claim, to be confſidered as one of thoſe diſtricks, which are approaching to ſomewhat like per- feion; for, independent of the good quality of the dif- ferent ſpecies of corn it produces, which, perhaps, is fully as much owing to ſome inherent principle in the ſoil it- ſelf, as to any other circumſtance; few parts of the ifland, af the facts relating to other counties were fairly ſtated,
would

would be found to furniſh a more abundant crop; and inſtances here are very rare, of farmers reſorting to any other manure, than what is produced from their own farm- yards; a ſtrong preſumption, that either the natural ſoil, or the ſyſtem purſued, cannot be a very bad one. In truth, where they are contented with, or reſtricted to, plowing no more, than a reaſonable proportion of their land, the quantity of cattle neceſſarily kept, muſt of itſeltf produce an improvement; and the fact is, that, generally ſpeaking, about one half of the farms is held under til- lage, by which a conſiderable quantity of manure is neceſ- ſfarily raiſed.
Except in thoſe places where no ſyſtem was purſued, that half was formerly divided for occupation, into four ſeaſons; 1. fallow or coleſeed, or turnips, according to the nature of the ſoil; 2. barley or wheat; 3. clover; 4- barley or wheat: but of late years, a much better fuc- cefſion has been adopted, as I ſhall have occafion to ſtate under the head of improvements.
Propor tion of ſeed and produce.— The uſual allowance of ſeed is, four buſhels per acre of barley, five of beans, and three of wheat; and were Ito hazard an opinion of the produce from the beſt of the incloſed lands, I would ſay, that the average is five quarters per acre of barley, four of beans(which are a precarious crop, but very productive in a good ſeaſon), and three and a half of wheat, meaning in all caſes to include the tithes.
Sheep.— Great improvements have been made in the breed- ing of ſheep fince incloſures were adopted; and few parts of the kingdom can boaſt of more uſeful and profitable ſheep, than what are kept in the incloſed parts of Huntingdon- ſhire; though theſe will not bear a compariſon with ſome others in point of nicety in ſhape, and undoubtedly admit of a ftill farther improvement, but to what degree I will
C 2 not
For reniarks and additional obſervations.

For remarks and additional obſervations.
not undertake to ſay. They are of the polled fort, and not cafily diſtinguiſhed from the generality of the Lincoln- hire and Leiceſterfhire fheep, with each of which, the breed has been a good deal mixed. Their wool is good of its ſort, generally fetching as high a price as any long wool whatever; and I believe weighs, upon an average,
about eight pounds a fleece. —
Naat cattle.— This is not a breeding county for neat cat- tle; nevertheleſs, many of the graziers rear a few, and thoſe are generally very good ones; but a great many cattle are ted, the choice and management of which is an afticle of country bufineſs pretty well underſtood in Huntingdon-
fhire.
Rorſes.— Mares are generally uſed all over the county for the ſame purpoſes as before-mentioned, with reſpeð to the fens; but the high-land farmer does not breed near ſo many colts as the fen man, though in general they have an eye to the keeping up of their teams without going to fairs; which every farmer, attentive to his own intereſt, muſt
neceſſarily have in view.
Ploughs.— The common ſwing plough is the original plough of Huntingdonſhire. It has been already obſerved, however, that the half Dutch-plough is occaſionally uſed on the borders of the fens; though this is giving way to the double-furrowed plough, originally from Shropſhire, but now generally got from the neighbourhood of Northampton.
Price of labour.— The price of labour is 127. and 1447. a day to common labourers, from the end of harveſt until hay-time begins; then 187. a day until harveſt; and 2s. 64.. a day in harveſt, with beer in times of carrying; and if hired by the month, or for the whole harveſt, about two
69
uineas, board and beer;—women, 64. per day weeding; 1 104.
——

—————
10d. hay-making; 15. harveſt-work. They work from light to dark in winter; and from ſix to ſix in the ſpring and ſummer months(except harveſt, when they work from light to dark). The poor in general have dwellings ſuited to their ſtation; and as almoſt every one of them may grow his own potatoes, and have conſtant employment, if he pleaſes, they are naturally as little diſpoſed to emigrate from Huntingdonſhire, as from other counties.
Piece work.— From 144. to 204. per quarter, for threſhing barley and beans, and other pulſe grain; 2s, per quarter for threfhing wheat; 27. per acre for mowing hay, barley and beans; from 1S. 37. to 1. HQd. per acre for fhocking and raking barley and beans; and from 75. to 85. and 9s. for reaping; laying of hedges, back-fencing with a dead hedge, and ſcowering the ditch at 3s. 6d. for 22 yards; making a new ditch two feet and a half wide 1§. three feet wide 15. 6d. and four feet wide 25, for every 22 yards; digging earth by the fquare yard 3d. per yard; and by the pole of five feet and a half éd. per pole.
Provißians.— Butcher's meat is generally 1d. or 12d. per pound under the London market; and bread nearly as high
as in London.
Manufakiures.— There are no manufactures carried on in the county, except the brewery(and that not for expor- tation), together with a little wool-ſtapling; but the women and children(at leaſt ſuch of them as are able to work), may have conſtant employment in ſpinning yarn, which 1s put out by the generality of the country ſhop-Keepers; though at preſent it is but a very indifferent means of em- ployment, and they always prefer out of doors work when the ſeaſon comes on.
Timoe:
For remarks and additional obſervations.

I 20 4
For remarks and additional 1
obſervations.
Timber and underwood.— The county is rather thin of timber, which may be imputed to the very great demand for it in the fens. The underwood is ſold at a higher price by the pole, conſidering the uſes to which it is applied, than in moſt other counties; and this Itake to be the natural con- ſequence of a ſmall ſtock of timber; for] believe it is a well founded maxim, that if woodlands are very full of timber, the underwood cannot be very profitable. Woods that Iam well acquainted with, have produced near 209. per acre per annum, as long as I can remember; whilſt the ad- joining fields, of as good, or a better quality, are let at an improved rent, of about 151. or 162. ber annum.
2. MEANS
———x—————õ————rn——õyõ———
—

2. MEANS OE IMPROVEMENIT.
The reader is now in poſſeſfion of the moſt correct ae- count, I can give him, of the general ſtate of agriculture in the county of Huntingdon and the conclufion to be drawn is, that much improvement may be made, 1. by draining the fens, the neceſſary conſequence of which will be the drain- ing of the Skirty Land; 2. by incloſing the open fields; and, 3. by extending the beſt poffible ſyſtem of huſbandry to every part of the county, when the fens are better drained, and the remaining open fields are incloſed.
1. Improvement in the qrainage of the fens.— A very great improvement has been brought about in part of the fens of Lincolnfhire, Cambridgeſhire, and Northamptonſhire, which directly applies by comparifon, to thoſe which are at this moment, either in a precarious or an unprofitable ſtate; and Ithink it my duty, not to let ſo material a fact, go unex- plained, in a work of this nature. The three counties laſt mentioned, and the county now under conſideration, meet nearly at a point, fo as to give to each of them, a fhare of an immenſe level, containing 600,000 acres of land, of which the Great Bedford Level forms a part. The Great Bedford Level is fabdivided into three, which, for diſtinc- tion ſake, are called the South, the Middle, and the North Levels. The North Level is ſituated North of the river Nene, and conjointly with the waters ef other great parts of the 600,000 acres, its waters are diſcharged, not into the river Nene, but into the bay, called Metaris Eſtuarium, at 2
For remarks and additional obſervations.

For remarks and additional
—õõõ
obſervations.
——m—B·—̈—ꝛ:˖---——y y——
I 22 1
a place below the town of Wilbech, where thoſe waters meet the waters of the Nene.
This place of confluence, is preciſely one of thoſe points which I have before had occaſion to obſerve, ought to have been the object of attention at the time of the general un- dertaking, inſtead of forming projects, with the waters in their paſſage through the levels, at a great diſtanee from the outfals, as was unfortunately done. The conſequence of this miſmanagement, ſo far as concerns the lands draining into Wiſbech outfal, and the navigation from Wiſbech to ſea, is freſh in every one's memory, who is at all acquainted with the country. Suffice it for me to ſay, that the lands were almoſt in a conſtant ſtate of drowning, whilſt the na- vigation to the ſea was nearly loſt.— Happily for the coun- try— happily for trade—for the navigation— for the landed intereſt—and for the conſumer of goods—a man of ſound underſtanding and unwearied diligence, became the leading agent to a princely eſtate, conſiſting altogether of fen land, which ſhould have been drained through the Wiſbech out- fal, at the very time when this deplorable ſtate of the coun- try and of the navigation preſented itſelf, whilſt, by the greateſt good fortune, the reſident agent, happened to be one, who had ſtudied the conſtitution of the place, and knew exactly what remedy was wanting to be applied. The active minds of theſe two worthy men were ſet in motion, and a plan founded upon true principles, which would have ſe- cured the navigation and drainage for ever, was ſubmitted to the public. Plain as the matter was, to any man of com- mon ſenſe, who would take the trouble to enquire, the mer- chants of Wiſbech oppoſed the ſcheme. WHATr! KUIN THE NAVIGATION, BV LESSENING THE INDRAUGHT OF THE TIDES, WHEN IT IS A CERTAIN FACT THAT THE WIDTHI OF THE INDRAUGHT ALONE ENABLES US TO NAVIGATE AT ALL?— WHaAT! TAX OUR LAaND, ALREADY WORTH NOTHING? WAs THE GENERAL CRY! and the plauſibi- lity of their objections, had a weight, which they were cer-
tainly
—

— 42
Qꝙ
—*
0
tainly not entitled to; for the true reaſon of the oppofition was neither more nor leſs than the narrow minded PREIU- DICE OF A VERY FEW MERCHANTS, WHoO, DREADING A Co MPETITION IN TRADE, WERE ANXIOUS TO KEEP THINGS As THEY WERE, AND wHo HAD INTEREST ENOUGHR WITH SoME OwNERS OF FEN LANDS TO O8- TAIN THEIR AsslsTANCE. But Mr. Palmer and NMr. Wing were not to be driven from their point, though thwarted ſo much as to be obliged to drop the plan for the preſent. They watched an opportunity, and without con- ſulting the merchants of Wiſbech at all, they got a clauſe inſerted in an Act of Parliament, which was about to be Paſſed for another purpoſe, enabling themſelves at the ex- pence of part of thoſe lands which drain through Wiſbech outfal, to execute not the whole, but a ſmall part, of their plan. The work has been done; and mark the event:— the lands in queſtion are improved almoſt beyond belief— they are, in fact, converted from a ſtate of very ſmall proft, in moſt caſes, in ſome of none at all, and in others of abſo- lute loſs to the proprietors, to one of the moſt fertile and beſt productive tracts that can be found, of the ſame extent, within His Majeſty's dominions; whilſt the trade of Wilſ- bech, in conſequence of an improved navigation to the ſea, is ſo much increaſed, that the amount of its cuſtoms is more than four times what it had uſed to be; and the inhabitants of the Northern part of Huntingdonfhire, and of great part of the county of Northampton, have the ſatisfaction to know and to fcel that they can be ſupplied with ſuch conſumeable goods as they want, without depending alto- gether upon the Lynn merchants, whoſe management, no longer ſince than laſt winter, would have ſtarved the coun- try to death for want of coals, if there had not been the port of Wiſbech to refort to. Nay more— a tract of country in Lincolnſhire, called South Holland, containing perhaps 100,000 acres of land, great part of which has
D never

For remarks and additional obſervations.
never yielded any thing, is now about to be drained into the channel formed by this improved outfal, under the powers of an act of parliament paſſed this very laſt ſeſſion. With theſe facs ſtaring us in the face— with this example of im- provement before our eyes—we are now gravely told by the Lynn merchants, that the very ſame thing propoſed to be done at the outfal of the Ouſe waters at Lynn, is a wild and chimerical preject, which will infallibly ruin the port of Lynn, and the drainage, forſooth, into the bargain, of that country which is dependant on the Ouze outfal.
At this enlightened period will aſſertions be believed, which, in the caſe of Wiſbech, have proved themſelves to be fallacious? Or, can it for a moment be ſuppoſed the true reaſon of the oppofition is as they have choſe to ſtate
it? F will not offend the good ſenſe of the reader by ſup-
poſing it poffible—does any man doubt the facts as here ſtated? Enquiries are caſily made; and a view of the two
countries in the winter ſeaſon will ſnew the wonderful con-
traſt in point of ſecurity, and ſpeak to the underſtanding with arguments ſo forcible as not to be reſiſted.— Conceive, on one hand, a tract of rich country, rendered productive and ſecure, as has been before ſtated;—on the other hand,
3 conceive a flat extent of confiderably more than 300,000
acres(I ſpeaxkk now of the whole of the two levels, called the South and Middle Levels, and of Marfhland Fen, ar
of other lands contiguous to the Ouze), with wa
1d ter lying againſt it, whoſe ſurſace is five or ſix feet higher than t! ſurface of the land, and which is kept from ov
ne erflowing it by nothing but high banks, conſtructed of the looſe porous ſoil of a fen country.— Conceive a very large part of this always under water in the winter ſe
diſtricts occafionally overflowed— Can it be wondered that
aſon, and many other
inhabitants are ſcarce? What is it, that can Poſſfibly recon-
cile any one to ſuch a ſtate of uncertainty? lIt is the na-
tural fertility of the land which in one good year will re-
4 compence

compence the farmer for the care and hazards of mat y, though perhaps not for his loſſes; and ſurely a country like this is worth preſerving, and preſents itſelf to an enlightened public as the fitteſt object for national confideration— larger in extent than ſeveral whole counties of Great Britain— productive of wheat and oats to a degree of which none but a fen man can have any conception— healthy for cattle of every ſpecies when properly drained— ſtanding in need of no manure whatever but what may be produced from the ſoil—with advantages peculiar to itſelf as to faci- lity of cultivation—poſſeſſing internal rivers, which commu- nicate with the navigations of the Nene, the Ouze, the Grant, and variqus others, by means whereof its produce may be conveyed to any part of the kingdom. Let all who delight in agricultural Kerlühte lay a finger upon that part of the plan of the ifland where this ſpot is deſcribed— and ſay— here is a country loſt to its proprietors and the community at large, though at no grsat diſtance from the ſeat of empire—one third part abſolutely yielding nothing; and the remainder, though productive in a certain overwhelmed with unneceſſary expences, which have ſwal- lowed up more than the fee-ſimple. Is the preſervation of timber an object worth attending to? Here is a country ſtruggling for a feeble exiſtence, ſupported in a ſtate of con- ſtant hazard by nothing but mechanical rrn⸗ which require an immenſe confumption of the beſt timber the iſland produces; inſtead of which, many hundreds, nay, thouſands of acres, might be applied to the growth of tim- ber of various ſpecies—better it had never been known, or had been ſuffered to remain in that condition in which it was ſound at the general undertaking— Shall a country like
1. 7—
this remain a ſacrifice for ever to miſtaken prejudice? For-
bid it public ſpirit—vain muſt be all attempts at agriculture, where the ſoil Vririt is lia
tain, to be loſt.— But we will ſuppoſe it drained, and the 2 b„
For
1„ remarks and addi
obſervations.
tlona!

„ e,at For remarks and additional
obſervations.
2ꝑͥ n——
induſtrious farmer put on that footing of ſecurity which has been ſhewn to be enjoyed by others who inhabit the ſame ſort of country—we have ſeen what he is inclined to purſue merely from the force of that example which has been ſet him by the late Mr. Wing as before-mentioned; and it remains to examine, whether the ſyſtem is, or is not calculated for obtaining profit to the utmoſt extent which the ſoil is capable of. To conſider this, I muſt premiſe, that fen land is, generally ſpeaking, too light, and too much inclined to graſs, and, I may add, too much impregnated with the ſeeds of various deſtructive weeds, owing perhaps to its former miſmanagement, to admit of ſummer prepa-— rations for vegetable crops; and very little of it is con- vertible to the growth of beans and other pulſe grain; be- cauſe the richneſs of the land would run them ſo much to ſtraw, that they would produce nothing. Hence it follows, that any fyſtem is impracticable on which dependance is to be placed, for keeping up the heart of the land by alternate Ciops, of a meliorating or improving nature, to act in con- traſt to thoſe of an exhauſting quality.
Granting theſe premiſes to be juſt, how is it be continued in a proper ſiate when brought into culture? by no other means, that I know of, than by laying it down to graſs with the ſecond crop of corn Wwhilſt it is in good condition; for it has been before obſerved, that the firſt crop is generally too rank for ſeeds: But the whole is not meant for graſs, ſince, without a due proportion of tillage, the farmer is de- prived of many advantages; neither will the ſoil itſelf, in general, admit of being always kept in graſs. How then is it to be reſtored to a ſtate of tillage? not by ſummer fal- lowing, for that is admitted to be impracticable; not by meliorating crops of corn, for thoſe are unfit for the land; not by exhauſting crops of corn, for thoſe muſt neceſſarily weaken the foil, and leave it poorer than they found it. The foundation then can only be laid by paring and burn-
. 2 ing;
—

I 27 1
ing; a pradiice not jaſtifiabſe, perhaps, in any other part of the kingdom, except ſor the purpoſe of bringing waſte land into culture; but which muſt be reſorted to bere from neceſfity; and what is requiſite to be done, is to take care that it does not return too frequently. Conſidering the nature of the fens, I am really of opinion, that it is impof- ſible to deviſe a more profitable mode of management than what I have firſt deſcribed, as pretty generally practiſed al- ready(unleſs indeed ſummer vetches for fheep-feeding were occaſionally introduced berween the two exhauſting crops
f corn, which will probably ſome time or other be the caſe); for there is no part of the farm but what yields ſome profit, ſince the land, when laid down in tolerable heart, and with proper ſeeds, will continue to bear pretty good graſs until its rotation for plowing comes round; and fen land, when well drained, being the drieſt of almoſt any other in point of lair, is extremely healthy for all ſorts of cattle.
Calculation of improvement to reſult from a perfet drainage. — Suppoſe two third parts of 300,000 acres to let at 109. an acre on the average(we will not enquire at what ex- pence the rent has been obtained, ſince that is out of the queſtion), but it is frittered away by taxes, of one ſort or other, by expences for repairing engines, drains, and banks, and by allowances to tenants in bad ſeaſons, until the actual produce is not above ſix or ſeven fhillings at the utmoſt.
The remaining third, it is well known, lets only at 15. 6d.
ber acre.
The
For remarks and additional obſervations.

For remarks and additional
obſervations.
1 283
The account then will ſtand as follows:
Two third parts of 300, 000 acres, or 200,000 acres at 75.
One third part of 300,000 acres, or 100,000 1 85 2 7,
500 acres at 15. 64d. 5 Suppoſed rent of the whole 772500
At a moderate computation, the whole when properly drained would produce an actual rent †* 22 5,000 of 155. per acre,
Annual advantage to be gained by the pro- prietors, L. 147,500
The public at large, however, from the additional quan- tity of the articles produced, as corn, wool,&c. or by their increaſed value when manufactured, muſt gain at leaſt four times as much, or about half a million per annam.
For farther obſervations on this great ſubject, one of the
moſt important conne ded with the agriculture of many ex-
tricts in the kingdom, the reader is referred to the
tenſive diſ Appendix; where the objections likely to be adduced againſt this great ſource of improvement(a proper outfal at the port of Lynn) are, I truſt, fully refuted.
2. Improvement by incloſare.— On this head of improvement, it is the leſs neceſſary to trouble the reader, as no reaſoning is required, to enforce the propriety of incloſures(though it is owing to the good ſenſe of the legiflature, that as violent op⸗ pofitions to them are not made, as any that can be brought
forward againſt other deſcriptions of improvement), and as
/2 he author will have another opportunity of ſtating his ſen- b 4
timents upon the fabject, in the account which he intends
U
5* ₰ —
8 O — — — — (d d0
2 — 0
to lay before the Bo ture of Northamp-
a tonlhire.
* There are inſtances even in Huntingdonſhire, where fen land is let as high as two pounds an acre, with privileges of plowing which are not ſuited to that good order one would wiſh to ſee generally eſtabliſhed.
2. moren 3. Improved
——5————
—=
moti Whe chan⸗ quali Belh Kore⸗ heal
Ume

3. Improved fiſtem of buſbandry.—- A very reſpectable writer has obſerved, that“„˙any limited portion of land, „ctolerably good in nature, will produce, if well cultivated “ and properly ſtocked, vegetable and animal manure, ſuffi- *cient to ſuppott itſelf, in good heart for ages, without any ¹e foreign aid*.“ I am not only of the ſame opinion, but from many years experience in practical huſbandry, will go ſo far as to aſſert,““ that any ſoil whatever, capable of “¹cultivation, the ground work for improvement being ¹once laid, may, by judicious management, be made not „„ only to ſupport itſelf in heart without foreign aid, but to *¹increaſe in goodneſs; and further, that however various * our ſoils, and different in their nature, the ſame order or “courſe of cropping ought to be purfued(fen land always excepted), changing only the ſpecies of our corn and ve-
4⁴ getables, and adapting them to the nature of the ſoil we
„have to work upon.“ Why ſhould we not fall at once into a method that will infallibly aſſiſt our improvements, inſtead of checking them? That ſuch a method is founded on reaſon, let us for a moment compare the operations of huſbandry, with what we cannot but obſerve in the animal and vegetable world, to which, in this caſe, the earth bears a ſtrong analogy, ſince in either, the ſprings of improvement being once checked or reſtrained, they can only be reſtored to motion, by a ſtronger application of the means of ſuſtenance. When cattle are faſt thriving, do we not obſerve, that if by chance, their career is checked by ſhort paſtures, or by a worſe quality of food than they have been accuſtomed to, their fleſh becomes looſe and waſted, and they are hardly to be re- ſtored to their former ſtate? Plants, however ſtrong and healthy, if checked in their growth by drought or an un- timely froſt, become languid and weak, and are with diff-
culty reſtored to their former vigour.
† Jee Mr. Kent's Hints to Gentlemen of Landed Property, p. 71.
80 0
For remarks and additional obſervations.

— 1 39 1
For remarks and additional oblervations. So it is with the improvement of our ſoils. Almoſt every V nan farmer in the kingdom manures his land, and puts it into good condition, at ſome ſtated period or other, and moſt no commonly enjoys an abundant crop of corn, of an exhauſting quality. Here the dæmon of huſbandry holds forth a falſe en ſhew of profit, and tempts him to a ſecond exhauſting crop; and, if that fucceeds in any tolerable degree, to a third, and in ſometimes to a fourth. In either caſe, the check to improve- ment is given, the ground work is deſtroyed, and the ſoil, reduced to its former ſtate, is not to be refored to a train of improvement, without much time, freſh labour, and a new V 2 expence. b To come to the point—the ſyſtem I would recommend is V this:—one half or two thirds of the land to be always in V i graſs, or a ſtill greater proportion where the ſoil is better 7 adapted to grazing than to plowing; the remainder to be b kept in tillage in the following diviſions and ſucceſſions of V 3 crop: 64 Ift. Clean deep winter and ſpring plowing for a vegetable crop, of whatever kind is beſt ſuited to the ſoil, as turnips, V d tares, or coleſeed: this is to be hoed, but not to ſtan for ſeed. V 4 2d. Acrop of white corn, of whatever kind is beſt ſuited 1 to the ſoil, and with this, clover 20 lb. per acre. 20 3d. Clover either grazed or mowed, but not to ſtand for en ſeed. V op Ath. Beans, ſheep fed and hoed, or ſome other meliorat- qu ing crop ſuited to the ſoil. V 5th. A crop of white corn ſuited to the ſoil. V This ſyſtem I fhould be glad to ſee adopted on all ſoils 2 whatever, except fen land, which I think, from experience, V im is not well ſuited to it, for the reaſons before given. It has th been carried into practice on deep ſtrong land in this county, à and the following is a ſtatement of what relates to 30 acres, d comprizing one diviſion of the tillage land: cc 3 wl * Sheep feeding of beans is found to be a very beneficial practice- 2 1786. —————e— o——.—
——„

rat⸗
ſoils nce, thas onty, ncres,
786.
—-————:——
2
0 :—
—
1786— Clean plowing wichout dung-— coleſced, an ordi- nary crop— ſheep fed.
1787— Barley—one buſhel and a half per acre ſowed— no dung— produce ſix quarters per acre.
1788— Clover—no dung—mowed twice; an enormous
crop both times.
1789— Beans—three buſhels per acre— ſheep-fed— no dung— produce ſeven quarters per acre.
1790— Batley—one buſhel and a half per acre— no dung produce a little above ſix quarters.
1791— Clean deep plowing— dunged and coleſeed—ſheep fed—wonderfully ſtrong.
1792— Barley— one buſhel and a half per acre— in many Parts rotten on the ground— produce five quarters per acre — clover in a great meaſure deſtroyed.
1793— Clover, an ordinary crop, partly for the reaſon above ſtated, and partly from extreme drought, but the land clean and very luſty.
The land is worth more, by at leaſt 5r. an acre, than at the beginning; and it is worthy of remark, that the other portions of the ſame farm, which, during the ſame years, have been managed exadily in the ſame manner, with the advantage of dung from the beginning, have borne no better crops, nor indeed quite ſo productive; and I am really of opinion, that if no dung had been uſed in 1791, the fubſe- quent barley and clover crops would have been much better.
After all the volumes that have been written upon farming, RATIONAL SXSTEM is the only true ground work of general improvement; and I ſfhould be glad to ſee any objection that can be offered to the above plan; for it ſeems to me, to admit of every crop that is uſeful to man or beaſt, without devlating from the general rule of management. Inſtead of coleſeed, any other vegetable—inſtead of barley, any other white corn— inſtead of clover, any other graſs ſced— inſtead
E of
For remarks and additionat obſervations.

1 32
For remarks and additional obſervations. of beans, any other pulſe grain— and inſtead of barley again, any other white corn may be uſed—whilſt a ſmall portion of either diviſion may be ſet apart for ſupply ing ſuch ſeeds as from their exhauſting nature are not admifſible for general
cultivation. In fhort, from experience, I will be bold to
affirm, that(except in ſuch caſes as no human foreſight can
prevent) it will neither fail to afford a luxuriant produce, nor to aſſiſt our own operations of improvement.
My idea has always been, that farmers are eaſieſt excited to good management by falling in a little with thoſe habits which practical men know to be inſeparable from the detail of agriculture. When they ſee a brother farmer cultivating the ſame ſort of ſoil, employing the ſame deſcription of labourers, and conforming in all eſſential points to the ſame modes and cuſtoms with themſelves, and find that he pro- duces better crops, and derives, in all appearance, a greater profit than they do, that watchful monitor, Self-intereſt, prompts an enquiry into the detail of his operations; 85 ſee perhaps that he ſows beans, or ſome other meliorating crop, when the land is in its greateſt vigour, inſtead of in- troducing the ſame thing after an exhauſting crop of corn; they obſerve that he does not depend ſo much on keeping his land up to the mark by ſtrong manuring, as by a different courſe of thoſe very ſorts of corn and vegetables, which they have been long in the habit of uſing themſelves— They learn perhaps that he ſaves a confiderable part of the re by leffening the uſual proportion of ſeed, and otelihard- ing, that his crops are ſtronger, and apparently more pro-
— ductive than theirs;— and, after all, that at the end of the courſe, his land is in a better ſtate than it was at the be-
ginning. Theſe are matters that, if they really exiſt,
53
likely enough to claim the attention of the neighbogrhood; for few are ſo obſtinate— perverſe as not to avail them- ſelves of ſuch examples. Far be it from me to decry inge- nuity of any kind. I am truly ſenſible of the value of
1 many

I 33
many machines that have been invented for facilitating the operations of huſbandry, as well as for cleaning the land, and reducing the quantity of ſeed; and all l mean to ſay is, that thoſe inſtruments will find their way to general uſe by flow and gradual means only; whilſt he that executes A PROFITABLE SYSTEM OE MANAGEMENT ſuited to the common broad caſt huſbandry, bids fair to engage the notice of the neighbourhood, in ſpite of the impreſſion of thoſe habits which attach to unlettered farmers, and may at leaſt be ſaid, to be trying to do an eſſential ſervice, both to the cauſe of agriculture, and to his country.
L 2 APPENDIX.
For remarks and additional obſervations.

—i

A D P E N D I X.
Mr. Maxwell, having annexed, to the preceding obſervations, the following Appendix, upon a queſtion of the utmoſt conſe- quence to the agriculture of a very extenſive diſtrict, it was thought adviſable to print it, as too much light cannot be thrown on ſo important a ſubject; and as a full diſcuſſion of It, may perhaps tend, to bring about an accommodation, among the various parties intereſted in the meaſure; a circumſtance which would be particularly acceptable to the Board, and to the Public in general.
Obſervations

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FE. N D I X.
Obſervations on the Advantages to be derived from an improved OuTFaL at the Port of LrNN; with Anfwers to the Objections which it is fuppoſed will be urged againſt that Meaſure.
THE queſtions to be conſidered by the parties, intereſted in that important meaſure, are as follow:
1. Whether an improved outfal is not a grand defideratum, without which fubordinat works have alreagy hiie themfelves to be of no avall wlalever⸗
3. Wh ether the ex nce of chat improv ed outfal, an of ſuch other ſul botcnar te works, as will be required to convey the waters into it, from the various diſtricis comprizing the 300,000 F acres, is lkely to be ſuch as wi ill juſtfy the undertaking?
The firſt queſtion is anfwered by the preſent dep'orable ſtate of the fens.— The ſecond by that example which has taken place below W iſbech. The third requires an anſwer more at large, which I will endeavour to gire. The tax meant to be c harged upon nhe lands, for the
110
expence of the mere outfal, was 44 7l. per acre for 10 years, ar ad no lo: ager, upon all the lands draining through the river Ouze. Reſpecting fubordinate work, I Behne ex Fe ei, hat the country draining into the Wiſbech outfal, is divided into five diſtricts, cach of which Was
already i in poſfeſſion of inlernal Works for conveying its own particular downfal waters, into the main cuts, but neither the internal drains, nor the main cuts, were, before this improved outfal, of any avail towards drainage.
Over and above the tax that was laid for the paymen t 5 the e Ebencc a atte ndant on the out- fal(which, by the bye, was far greater than that propoſed at Lynn, the tract of country being much lets), each of thoſe diddohs charged itſelf with ſuch taxes as were edre to pay the expences of improving thoſe internal works, a aecoiclug as the circumſtances of its own caſe made it neceflary. Now an improvement having been effected, the expence has of courſe
been

I 38 1
been well aſcertained; and from the knowledge I have of thie matter, I can ventufe to aſſert, that tche whole expence, including the outfal, has not been ſo much, as muſt neceſſarily have been expended on the internal works and other ſubordinate works alone, unleſs the country had been wholly abandoned, and confequently, that all expences being ſet oſt by ſavings to an equal amount, the proprietors kave been gainers of the whole difference between what tbe make of their eflates now, and what was before made cf them; Wwhich laſt, I have before ſtated, was, in many inſtances, very little io proportion to the inherent value ef the land, in ſome nothing, and others worſe than nothing. The caſes are exactly ſimilar; and the plan of draining the lands muſt be the ſame in all its component parts. And how any man can venture to aſſert, that an equal and very moderate tax, meant to be laid for the works of the outfal, which the owners of every diffrict may avail themfelves of, if they think proper, is glaringly unequal, opprefſfve, and unjuſt, and at the ſame time hold out this, as conciliatory language, is to me extraordinary indeed; but, ſtrange as it may ſeem, this is the very language of a publication, in a provincial newſpaper, coming this very day, the 10th of Auguſt, 1793, expreſsly from the Lynn merchants, through the medium of the ſolicitor employed by them to oppoſe the ſcheme, and has been the very language uſed by them from the beginning.
T'hey have indeed amuſed themſelves, and the promoters of the ſcheme, with what they are leaſed to call conciliatory overtures; but, independent of abſolute impracticability, the latter ave too good reafon to be guarded againſt what comes from people, who, in the firſt inſtance, pprove and recommend the ſcheme, then deny the principle of a plain propoſition, which the teſt of experience, to ſay nothing of the opinion of almoit all the engineers in the kingdom, has proved to be the foundation of every thing that is wanted for the recovery of a loſt coun- try; and laſtly, who have done, and are now doing, all in their power to prevent the fairneſs of it from being tried on its own meriits, before the tribunal of a candid and enlightened legiflature. Common ſenſe will tell any man that no drainage can be had without a good outfal to ſea; but nat a fyllable of this, or any alluſion to it, can be found in what they have brought forward; and, till that is a previous point ſettled and acceded to on all hands, it cannot be expeded that a fet of people, appointed at a very large publick meeting for the expreſs purpoſe of carrying a well digeſted plan into effect, will reſign their powers into the hands of thoſe, who have thwarted the purpoſe of their appointment on all occaſions; and more eſpe- cially, as they have peen publicly invited, without effeCt, to come ſorward and debate the principle of what they object to; for hitherto no preciſe argument has appeared on their parts; though it muſt be confeſſed, it is a deficiency, which has been well ſupplied by invective and general aſſertions, without any ſort of proof to fupport them.
Advantage to the community from an improved droinage.— To aſcertain the advantage to the eommunity at large, it appears to me, that the ſhort queſtion to be aſked is, What additional produce of conſumable articles of every kind will refult from a new acquiſition of territory, the increaſed rent of which, cannot be leſs than(. 147, 500. and the total addit onal value of the produce probably four times as much?
To attempt to anfwer this appears unneceſſary; for whether the annual value of the im- provement be, or be not, over-rated, or whether the conſumable articles amount to this or that particular ſum, we know that an immenſe improvement muſt ariſe, and of courſe that it muſt be ſufficiently conſequential to render it a matter of great national importance.
Navigation.— There is another head on which I muſt beg leave to be a little explanatory, and that is, the navigation through the intended cut; concerning which the ſame changes
have been rung upon the words partial, oppreſſive, and unjuſt. This was meant to be taxed 3 iikewiſe
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f 39
here ſtate, that the intended cut was propoſed to be in a ſtraight diredion, or nearly ſo, leaving the river Ouze a little below German's Bridge, and entering it again at a certain point a little above Lynn, thereby cutting off near four miles of its preſent wide crooked courſe, which is at all times dangerous, and often impracticable, for lighters to navigate. It will appear in evidence before both Houſes of Parliament, that the preſent expence of navigating this roundabout courfe is 7½4.; and the expence of navigating the new cut will be 2 ₰d.; making a difference of 5 ½3. per ton; and over and abore this, as lighters are frequently ſunk, that the inland merchants who ſend corn to Lynn would gladly pay one fhilling per laſt to inſure their cargoes againſt the dangers of this inland navigation. A laſt is equal.to a-ton and a half on the average of oats and other heavy grain, which is at the rate of 84. per ton, or thereabout; and this 84. added to the 5½7. is one fhilling and one penny farthing per ton, which will be ſaved to the conſumer for ever after the expiration of the 10 years, Whilſt 9ετ. will be ſaved during the continuance of the impott.
Alchough, as has been before obſerved, no preciſe argument has hitherto appeared againſt the making of this outfal, ic is ſuppoſed that ſuch objections as the following may be held out againſt it.
Firſt.— By tbe Lyna merchants.— That the effect of the ſcheme will be uncertain, and may endanger the harbour and trade of Lynn, for want of the large indraught of the tides in the bay between Eau Brink and Lynn, which they alledge now ſerve as a reſervoir; and that the ſand banks in the harbour and towards ſea will not be diminiſhed, but removed to a more dangerous ſituation, and increaſe the difficulty of the navigation between Lynn and the Crutch.
Anſæver.— The ſea is always deep in proportion to the height of tbe adjoining coaſt; and where it is fhallow very confiderable harbours have been loſt. Witneſs Flect Harbour, once famous in hiſtory, and Caſtle Riſing*, on the ruins of which the harbour of Lynn obtained its conſequence. Had their loſs been occaſioned by the execution of any ſuch works as are now recommended, ſome proper ground for alarm might reſult from the fact; but, on the contrary, the ſea deſerting the ſhore, an accretion of ſoil took place; and this being after- wards embanked, without bringing forwards tocwarde the ſea, the outfalls of the adjacent country, thoſe outfalls in time ſilted up, and the harbours into which they fell became Jand likewiſe; whilſt the drainage of the country communicating with thoſe harbours was entirely loſt. That the ſame cauſes exiſting at Lynn and Wiſbech, would, in che nature of things, produce
* Caſtle Riſing is on a hill, the only one in the eounty; but the propoſition is, that the ſea is always deep when the fhore is mountainous, and fhallow when the fhore is flat; and the town of Caſtle Rifing being upon a hill does not weaken the argument, for mountzinous countries abound with ſprings, whoſe waters(in addition to the downfall waters) falling from a great height into the ſtreams which communicate with the ſea, greatly affiſt the reflux of the tides in grinding a deep bot- tom. Witneſs Catwater at the mouth of the river Tamar, and various other bays on the Devonſhire and Corniſh coaſt 3 and Witneſs alſo Milford Haven, and various other bays on the Welch coaft. Trefer particularly to theſe two places, becauſe they are mentioned in a Report, lately publiſhed at the inſtance of the town of Lynn, as cafes to be compared with the caſe of Lynn; when the fact is, that no two things in the univerſe can be more direly oppofite in principle, whether we confider the comparative foulneſs of the bays, or quantity, velocity, and ſtrength of the living flreams falling into them.
21

[ 40
the ſame effect as at Fleet and Caſtle Riſing has been long fince predicled, and not only pre dicted, but verifiec at Wiſbech; and is ſo near being verified at Lynn, that both drainage and navigation are at this moment adinitted to be in the direct road to ruin. The diſeaſe, which was the ſame, has been cured at Wiſbech by a work exacétly ſimilar in principie to what is now propo¹ ſed at L.ynn, Aieh is a full anſwer to the uncertainty of the ſcheme. Their fimila rity is here demonſtrated; and thole who deny it, may as well ſay, that one man is not the lame ſpecies with another, becauſe their featurces and octtward form are not exactly
alike.
WISBECH RIVEBR. LVNNRIVE R.
Its confinement to a narrow ſpace was no It is now confined to a narrow ſpace, no further than to a certain point, called the hearmhe than to a place called Eau Brink, River's End, where it emptied itſelf into a where it empties uleis into a wide balon of wide baſon of ihifting fands. ſhifting ſands.
The current was divided below the River's 1 The current is now divided below Eau End into a great number of ineſſicient Bripk into a great number of inefficient
Kreams. d ferkie
The waters over-rode all the tunnels com- The waters now over-ride all the tunnels municating with the river. ſeerlesien with the river.
The drainage of the fen lands— The drainage of the fen lands is now de-
the ſurface of the river water, occa fioned by river water, occaſsnad by the growing up of
thoſe tunnels was deſtroyed by the height of ftroyed by the height of the furface of the the growing up of the bed of the river. Jis bed of the river.
WISBECHI. EYNN. The cauſe of all the abore. The cauſe of all the above. The end of the river at the point called the The River End, where it is confined to a River End, where it was confined to a narrow narrow ſpace as far as Eau Brink, is too far ſpace, was too far from deep water, and the„4 from deep water, and the river ought to be
river ought to have been confined to a narrow confined to a narrow ſpace lower down to- ſpace lower down towa:ds the deep water. J Cwards the deep water.
The REMEDV. The KREMEDVY.
The riyver is propoſed to be confined to a narrow ſpace from Eau Brink to a little above Lynn harbour, being a diſtance of about two miles and a half; to Which muſt be added
The river has been confined within banks to a narrow ſpace from a point called the
iver's Et ace below the fluice, calle a. Phar easari Se hahenhe di 96 e J'the difference between the length of the new oe mil 4 ½ Auarter Seren c det Haer cut, and the length of that part of the river na REhnol P 4 which is to be deſerted, making in the whole
near fix miles nearer to decp water.
The
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The EFEECr The EFEEGCT.
As Lynn Harbour applies to this, ſo may it be reaſonably inferred, that the harbour muſt be improved.
Has been an improved channel below 18 1 . L 1.. No ſand banks hace been raiſed acroſs the No ſand banks will be raiſed acroſs the 441 1 4
mouth of the new cut.
bay below the new cut. bay below the new cut. An improved navigation through the new cut, and up to the town of Wiſbech.
An improved navigation through the new cut and up to Kau Brink will take place.
Fhere will be a foundation for a perfect drainage, an advantage of which all lands
—
The foundation for a perfed drainage of che fen lands, which has ſince taken place.) whoſe outfalls communicate with the Ouze equally partake. That an increaſed trade will ariſe by a An increaſed trade, the increaſed tonnage return of that part which has been in a great being fourfold. e loſt, viz. from Lynn to Peterborough — and Northampton.
The whole reſolves itſelf into this. Is it pofſibie, in the nature of things, that the Wiſbech cut, which extends only one mile and a quarter nearer to deep water, can have been more efficacious in ſcowering the fands below, and in bringing about the other improvements abovèe ſtated, than the new cut at Lynn will be, which will extend almoſt ſix miles nearer to deep water than the River now does at Eau Brink, above which it is confined to a narrow ſpace.
The harbour of Lynn cannot pofibly be injured by a decreaſe in the indraught, for no ſuch decreaſe will happen, but juſt the contrary, ſince the tides will How up the new cut in a deep channel, the only poſfible means of accquiring additional force; for granting the argument of the oppoſition to be juſt, and that the force of the indraught depends on the width merely, we have nothing to do but to make the river as wide again as it js; and then the indrauglit being Widened, the reflowing power will be increaſed, which is abſurd to fuppoſe.
Second— Denver Sluice.— That Denver Sluice is the ſole cauſe of the decay of the outfall; and if removed, both drainage and navigation would be compleat.
Anſaer.— One of the moſt intelligent enginsers and honeſteſt men that ever lived, the late Mr. Smeaton, who was employed Bv THE TOWN OF LYNN to make obſervations on the river and harbour, was clearly and decidedly of opinion, that Denver Sluice was not the cauſe of the decay of the outfall, which, he ſaid, was to be looked for from other events. What was really the cauſe is ſhewn in the anſwer to the firſt part of the firſt objection; and it is impoſſible to refute the fact on which the argument in that anſwer is founded: for the ſea has retreated; and immenſe tracts of ſalt marſh have been embanked on the adjacent ſhore.— Will the objectors ſay, that the weakening of the upland ſtreams has cauſed the ſea to retire? This can never be the caſe; for the outfall at Wiſbech has been improved; and ſince that improvement has taken place, the accretion of ſalt marſh has been more rapid than uſual; witneſs the Act of Parliament, paſſed in the laſt ſeſſion, for the embankment of 5,000 acres on that ſhore. A ſtill more deciſive anſwer to this objection is, that the outfalls of the Nene and of the Welland, diſcharging themſelves into the ſame bay, have likewiſe been loſt; and that Denver Sluice has certainly no effect upon any of them, it being at an immenſe diſtance and acroſs a river, with which none of them have any communication.
F 2 5 T hird.—

I 42
Third.— That by the immediate effect of the new cut, the harbour of Lynn will he rendered unſafe for the ſhiips and veſſels Jying at their moorings; and that the violence of the current in the new cut will render the navigation through the ſame highly dangerous.
Anſwer.— The immediate effect will not be upon the harbour, but upon the ſancl banks parallel with the harbour; and the inclination of the channel from the Weſt ſhore towards che harbour will be gradual, and not ſudden; and therefore no poſſible injury can ariſe to veflels in the harbour..
That the violence of the current in the new cut ſhould render navigation through the ſame dangerous, is eaſy to aſſert, but impoſſible to happen; inaſmuch as the bottom of the new cut 1s to be carried on an inclined plane of no more than four inches in a mile, which is agreed by all engineers to be ſuch a declivity as cannot effect ſo violent a current as to injure navi- gation, but juſt the contrary. B-fides, the preſent danger to navigation is not in the narrow part of the river above Germans, but in the wide part of the river below.
Feurtb.— By the land oconers Hing on each fide of ibe propoſed cut.— That the ſoil through which the cut is propoſed to be made, is of a looſe nature, and that banks made of ſuch ſoil will not be ſufficient to withſtand the force of the tides, and the country may be in danger of a breach of banks.
Anſawer.—lt will be proved in evidence, that the ſoil is ſtrong and good, and that the banks will de more than ſufficient to protect the adjoining country; as they will be of far greater dimenſions than the preſent ſea banks, and made of the very ſame materials.
Fijth.— OLjedlion from part of ihe Soutb Level and villages bordering upon the fens.— That their lands lying at the greateſt diſlance from the outfall will not receive equal beneſit with the lands near thereto, and therefore ouzht not to be cqually taxed.
That the lands in the South Level are not of equal value when drained with thoſe in other parts of the diſtrict, and ought to be taxed according to their value, as was done by the Bed- ford Level, in eleven different ſorts or gradations, under the act of 15ᷓth Car. II.
Anſwer.— The fact is not true, which ſuppoſes the lands in the South Level to be at the greateſt diſtance from the outfall, for thoſe at the extremities of the Middle Level are more remote than the others.
All lands in the Great Level of the fens muſt receive an equal benefit from the lowering the head of water in the river Ouze, which at preſent forms a compſete dam againſt all the tunnels communicating therewith. The waters from the Hundred Foot River over-ride the waters above Denver Sluice; inſomuch, that if that fluice was removed, the ſafety of the whole of the South Lesel would be endangered. Take away the obſtacles belove, and the waters will be lowered againſt Denver Sluice, in the ſame manner that it will be againſt Old Bedford Sluice, Salte:'s Load Sluice, and the Tong's Drain Sluice. The value of the re- ſpective lands is out of the queſtion: for it is the value of the improvement which each will receive that is to be taken into the account; and it may happen that the loweſt priced land may be moſt improved.
The oppofition have hitherto treated this bufineſs as a matter immediately calculated for mternal drainage; Whereas it is only laying the foundation for drainage at the outfall, which can no longer be had without an improvemenrt in the outfall, though the conſequence will be a ſaving in the expence of internal drainage, becauſe the head of water being lowered againſt the hanks, the fock through them will be decreaſed, the banks will not be required to- be ſupported to ſorgreat a height as they now are, and the fize and conſequent expence of engines, will be leſſened in the ſame proportion as the. banks and the ſock through them are decndil⸗
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43
It will be given in evidence, that the ſaving in internal drainage will be at leaſt one ſhilling per acre for ever on all lands draining by engines; and this ſaving will, like the ſaving in tonnage, be obtained for an impoſt of 44d. for ten years; but the grand improvement will be
tthe obtaining the means of drainage, whereby the rents of the land will be increaſed as before
₰ω
ſtated.
Ovjegrion by the growvers of corn and the conſumers of merchandize, or by the inland merchant.— That the tonnage will injure the landed property, and operate as a tax of four-pence a laſt on every laſt of corn ſent to Lynn by the propoſed cut.
That the tonnage of four-pence will be io much additional expence to the conſumer on every chaldron of coals,&c. brought by water from Lynn through the ſaid cut.
Anſwer.— The direct contrary has been already proved to be the caſe(ſee p. 39); but the fact is, that the Lynn werchants, who are a powerful and wealthy body, have ſo intimate a connexion wirh the inland merchants and the barge owners, that many of both have joined in the cry, although the latter know to a certainty that the inland freight muſt be leſſened very confiderably; and the former may, if they think proper, convince themſelves that the ſaving will be what has been before ſtated.
There is alſo every reaſon to believe that the navigation from Lynn to ſea will be put, by means of this improved ourfall, into ſuch a ſtate, as to admit of veſſels differently conſtructed from thoſe which are now uſed; and that of courſe the trade at Lynn will become open to. all the world, inſtead of being enjoyed, as it now is, by a very few indeed. For theſe reaſons, if for no other, the plan that they object to, ought to be carried into execution; for it is by no means proper, that the conſumers, in an extenſive diſtrict, ſhould continue at the mercy of two ſets of traders, however reſpectable they may be, but who in fact ought to be conſidered in no other light than as the medium through which conſumable goods paſs to the public; and, indeed, who might theinſelves be greatly benefitted by this meaſure, in conſequence of the great increaſe of trade that would ariſe, if they choſe to avail themſelves of the oppor- tunity with which they would thus be furniſhed, inſtead of being ſatisfied with a leſs extended
commerce, of which they enjoy a ſort of monopoly.
Okbjection as a work belonging to tbe Bedford Level Corporation.— That the work propoſed by the bill ought to be done at the expence of the Bedford Level Corporation, out of the Q,000 acres allotted to them by the I5th of Charles II. and not at the expence of the free lands within the levels, or at the expence of the navigators, the adventurers having contracted to drain, maintaio, and preſerve the drainage of the Great Level, in conſideration of the 95,000 acres originally aſſigned them; aud that the owners of free lands have a right to exhauſt the value of thoſe adventurers' lands by taxation, before the adventurers can, with any juſtice, eall on them for any further affiſtance.
Anſaver why the propoſed work ought not to Be done by the Bedford Level Corpration.— The work
ropoſed can never be confidered as a work within the object or ſcope of the juriſdiction of the Bedford Level, for the following reaſons:
The proprietors of the eſtates through which the cut is to be made, having petitioned againſt its being done, would obtain an inpjunction from the court of Chancery to ſtop the proceedings of the corporation, in caſe they were to ſet about it without the authority of Parliament.
The Lynn outfall ſerves not only the lands within the Great Level of the fens, but upwards of 100,000 acres of land bordering upon the Ouze, over which the Bedford Level Corporation have no juriſdiCtion, and the proprietors of which are anxious for a better drainage; and there-
fore it would be highly unreaſonable to expect the Bedford Level to do a work which concerns thoſe

I 44.
thoſe who are not intereſted in the Bedford Level. With equal propriety might thev be called upon to follow the ſea by a cut and embankment below Lynn, ſhould it hereafter retreat to any diſtance below Lynn.
It is ſaid, that by the 15th of Charles II. ſect. 5. the Bedford Level are impowered to make b ſe works for conveying of the waters of the Great Level, as well without as within their levels; but can this clauſe be conſtrued to extend to the cutting a new river many miles below their boundary, and which is to ſerve a country unconnected wich the Great Level, over which ii they have no power or controul? l
It has been faid, that the 95,Ooo acres are liable to every work of drainage; and that ſu neither the free lands or the navigation ought to bear an impoſt while any part of thoſe V of 95,000 acres are capable of taxation.—
It is a well known fact, that by the decay of the outfall at Lynn, the current in the OQuze, b and in the various rivers connected therewith, has been ſo much checked, that the Beds of the rivers have greatly ſilted up, and the water therein being raiſed againſt the banks, the expences„. 6 of fupporting them have increaſed ſo much, that many thouſand actes of adventurers' land, part of the 95,00O acres, have been given up to the corporation as incapable of ſupporting the load of taxes neceſſarily impoſed for the ſupport of the works of drainage, and which have been 1 laid as high as the lands could poſſibly bear; this, added to a large debt, borrowed on the ſecurity of the taxes applied for the benefit of the levels, puts it out of the power of the Bedford Level Corporation to ſupport their preſent works, much more to extend tliem to any new and great works like the preſent.
The maintenance of the works of the corporation were long ſince found by experience to exceod the fund for their fupport. The banks alone were originally 200 miles in length, V beſides above 5o other great works; and the corporation were under the neceſſity of abandon- ing them all, except the great river banks, and all the inward works fell to decay.
The owners of free lands and the country at large were truly ſenſible of the inability of the corporation to do thoſe works, and under that conviction have, at different periods, ſupported the internal works under numerous acts of parliament, obtained for putting parts of the ſaid levels into diſtricts; and at this day all the internal works are ſupported by che land owners 4 under thoſe various diſtrict acts, and money is indiſcriminately raiſed on all lands within the diſtricts, as well adventurers as free lands, ſo that the corporation were reduced to the neceſſity 6 of abandoning the idca of INTERNAIL DRAINAGE, wHICHI HAs BEEN SINCE COM MITTE V ¹ BY Law To THE FPKOPRIETORS OF THE LANDS; who, with the aſſſtance of the corporation, cf are now endeavouring to obtain what is known by each deſcription of parties intereſted, to be m the only thing that can be done for the improvement of the outfall. Beſides, the oppoſition V hold out an idea of bringing forward a plan of their own, without conſidering that the cor- poration of Bedford Level are as much bound to execute that, or any other plan, as they are bound to do this which is now objected to.
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Oëjections from part of the country of Marſpland.— That many parts of Marſhland, which, V for diſtinction ſake, are called Highlands, are to be taxed by this plan, and will not receive 4 benefit by the propoſed cut, being already ſufficiently drained, and therefore ought to be exempt from tax.
Anſcer to tbe objections from part of the country of Marpland.— The country of Marſhland has ever been under the care of the commifſioners of ſewers for the county of Norfolk.
All the cuts and drains belonging to the Level of Marfhland were at firſt deſigned and 4 made to catry off the freſh and ſalt waters, which might at any time chance to annoy or ſu⸗ 3
roun

1 45 1 round the ſame; and both high and low lands are charged to the drains and common ſewers leading to its outlett into the river Oaze. „When the outfall was good, all the lands which paid to the ſame were laid dry, and con- ſequently they were then(not only all equally charged, but) all equally benefited.
But now, by the rivers being filied up, the outfall is, and has been for ſeveral years paſt, ſo much impaired, that the drainage of the country of Marſhland is nearly loſt; the high lands are charged to theſe ſewers and gools, and reap the ſole benefit of them; while the low lands are equally charged, and receive no benefit; for the former, when ſurcharged with ſudden downfalls, let go their ſtops and dams, and pour their waters upon the low lands, where, of courſe all thoſe waters muſt lodge which the outfall cannot carry off.
It is therefore obvious, that the low lands, inſtead of equally profiting with the high lands by the ſewers and gools, are moſt grievoufly oppreſſed by the high lands themſelves.
The country of Marfhland is a parcel of ground, containing about 40,000 acres, gained at d'fferent periods from the ſea.
It is encompaſſed towards the fen on the South by two banks, called the Old and New Podike, to prevent inundation from the fen waters; and next the ſea and river Ouze by banks to defend the country from ſalt and freſh waters.
The high as well as the low lands of the country of Marſhland, are aſſeſſed as equally as
may be, to the ſupport of thoſe bonks. That the country of Marfhland, is greatly oppreſſed by the decay of the outfall, clearly ap- pears from proccedings taken at different periods, within the laſt two ycars, to which the
reader is referred*., From
* At a meeting of the Commiſſioners of Sewers of the county of Norfolk, and of Land Owners of the country of Marſh-
land, holden on Wedneſday the I12th day of January, 1791, ar the Duke's Head Inn, at King's Lynn, in the ſaid county: Jo H N EDpDWAR DS, EſqQ. m the Chair;
Reſolved, That the cutfall of the river Ouze, between St. Peter's church and the town of Lynn, is deſedive.
That a cut from the bend of the river near St. Peter's church to Lynn(which cut was formerly propoſed by Mr. Kin-⸗ derley), would effetuate a proper outfal], and at the ſame time improve the navigation.
That John Edwards, Eſq; Sir Martin Browne Folkes, Bart. William Bentinck, Henry Bell, Anthony Dickins, George Hogge, Edmund Saffery, Thomas Berners Pleſtow, Maxey Allen, William Bagge, and John Cary, Eſqrs. or any two of them, be a committee of this mecring, to requeſt the Mayor of Lynn to call a meeting of the merchants and traders at Lynn, io take their ſentiments upon che expediency of ſuch a cut; and that they, or any two of them, be alſo a committee of this meeting, to propoſe the ſaid cut as a drainage to the corporation of Bedford Level, and requeſt them to depute a com- mittee to attend a meering to be holden to-take ſuch plan into conſderation-,.
That the Meering be adjourned to Wedneſday, the 9th day of February vext, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, at the Dake's Head, at King's Lynn; and that public notice be given of ſuch adjourned meeting. By order of the Meeting.
RoBßEkRT WHINCOP. Norfolk(to wi*). At a General Seſſion of ewers, holden for the ſaid county, on the z5th day of April, 1792, at King's Lynn, before ſeveral of His Majeſty's Commiſſioners of Sewers, the following verdicts of the jurors were returned. The verdict of the jury fworn to enquire for our fovereign Lord the King and the Hundred of Freebridge in the parts of Marſhland, in the ſaid county: te We preſent the river Ouze or Ourtfall between St. German's Bridge and Lynn being ſilted vp, whereby the works of „*o ſewers are greatly impeded; and we pray this Honourable Court would take the ſame into their ſerious conſideration, and 46 endeavour ro obtain ſuch relief and aſfiſtance as fhall be thought proper.“ Signed by 10 jury at Eing's Lynn, 25th April, 1792. The verdict of the jury fſworn to enquire for our ſovereiga Lord ihe King and the Hundred and halt of Clack Cloſe, in the ſaid county: 3 α We find and preſent that the river Ouze or outfall between St. German's Bridge and Lynn has for many years paſt «³α been gradually ſilted up, which prevents all ovr internal work of ſewers from having their deſired effect; and we pray this Honourable Courit will take the ſame into their ſerious confideration, and endeavour to obtain ſuch relief and aſfſtance as 6& in their wiſdom fhall be thought expedient.“ Signed by 21 jury at King's Lynn, z5ůth April, 1792.
Ahe

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From what has been ſtated, it is preſumed there cannot be any doubt but the evil exiſts,
and that Marſhland is in the Ktate deſcribed; and taking into conſideration the immenſe ſaving
to the country of Marſhland, by annihilating the banlés on each fide of the preſent circuitous channel between Eau Brink and Lynn, whieh will be rendered uſeleſs by the deſertion of that channel; the additional ſecurity of the country of Marſhland by the banks to be made againſt the new cut, and the oppreſſion of the low lands by the high land waters ſettling thereon, when both equally contribute to the preſent banks, drains, and gools; it follows that fufficient reaſons occur why all the lands of Marfhland, uſually rated to works of ſewers as ſtated in the intended bill, ſhould on the preſent occaſion be equally taxed.
Indeed it is almoſt an inſult to the underſtanding to ſuppoſe, that any real D ein on can be made to a tax ſo moderate as 47. per acre for ten ycars, which is equal to about a perpetual tax of one penny halfpenny; and which would coſt an infinite deal of money to apportion it according to the different qualities and jevels of the various diſtricts communica ing with the Ouze. The ſhort anſwer to all that can be aſſerted reſpecting the tax, let w hatever harſh epithets be uſed, is, that no one diſtrict can drain effectually at preſent; and that the tax propoſed is as a feather when compared to the annual ſums now waſted in wild projects.
The reader is by this time well acquainted with the fens, and with the various interells concerned in their welfare. The nature of the diſeaſe has been long underſtood, as well as the remedy that was wanted to be applied. The wretched ſtate of the outfall has been the ſubject of attention, at different periods, for more than half a century, during which time the drain- age, as well as the navigation and harbour of Lynn, have been conſtantly getting worſe.— The conduct of the Lynn merchants has been clearly ſhewn on the prefent occaſion;; and the influence which it has had upon many reſpectable characters, who at the outſet agreed to the principle of what they now condemn.— That conduct has operated in the very ſame manner upon every occaſion, and has hitherto defeated an improvement, which is certainly of the greateſt conſequence, and capable of being executed at the leaſt expence, of any thing of ſo important a nature that has perhaps ever yet offered itſelf to the conſideration of the public.
It remains only to notice one article of controverſy between the promoters and oppoſers of the ſcheme. Nothing ſpaciſic, as has been before noticed, has ever come forward from the latter, but vague objections to what has been propoſed, and hints at ſome project in embrio. This induces me to ſuppoſe, that if the gentlemen in oppoſition have any thing to bring forward, the embankment of all the rivers communicating with the Ouze, and of the upper part of che Ouze itſelf, is what they have in contemplation. To THIS IANSWER,
The refolution of the Court upon the ſaid preſentments:
** The jurors for the Hundred of Freebridge, Marſhland, and Clack Cloſe, having this day in their reſpeqive verdicts preſented to this court, that the river Ouze or outfall between St. German's Bridge and Lynn, has for many years paſt been gradually ſilting up, whereby the works of ſewers are prevented from having their defired effect; and praying this court would take the ſame into ſerious conſideration, and endeavour te obtain ſuch relief and aſſiſtance as moala be hought expe- dient.— This Court having duly conſidered the matter of the ſaid preſentments and ſtate of the outfall, Reſolve, that the moſt probable mode of obtaining relief for the country will be by makiang a new river from Eau iian. to Lynn, through the marſhes, agreeable to the plan recommended by Meſſrs. Mylne, Golbomne, and Watte, the engineers, in their ſeveral reports lately publiſhed, and this court do recommend to the landed and trading intereſt, concerning the ſaid river and outfall,
an application to parliament for that purpoſe, in which this court are willing to co-operate with them, as far as is confickent
with the truſt repoſed in them by their commiſſion. By the Court, RoßERT WINCOP, clerk of Sewers.“ Thus it zppears by the Reſolutions of the commiſſioners of ſewers and the land owners of Marchlaund, at their meeting of the 12th of ſanuary, 1791, among whom many of the moſt reſpectable gentlemen of the nei hbourkood were Dreſém, THAT THE OUTFALL WAs DEFECTIVE, AND THAT THE ONLY PLAN FOR 1MPROVING IT WAS THAT OF MAKING THE PROPOSED ACT. Ic alſo appears by the preſentment of two juries(conſiſting of 40 perſons) on oath, and the adjudication of the Court feor⸗ that the DISEASE EXISTS, and that the RADICAL CURE IS THAT PROPOSED BX THE INTENDED 0
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exiſts, ſavin
cuitous of that made ettling lollows ſeger
on can vout a ney t0 ca ing hatever the tax 3.
ntereſls as the ſobject drain- lfe.— ; and reed to ſame nly of ng of dublle. ſers of om we ject in hing to of the SWEI,
verdicts aſt been is court ht expe- that the through ir ſeveral d outfal!, copſiſtent dewers.“ dens of re prelcnt,
II Was
the Court TENDED
11
1 47 17 Is woRKINGAT THE WRoONG END; and is neither more nor leſs than adhering to that erroneous plan, which has been attended with ſuch very ruinous conſequences, varying only the mode of execution. It is a very extraordinary circumſtance, that although in almoſt every publication relating to this buſineſs, there is to be found ſome paſſage, vhich goes pointedly and directly to approve the principle of what is now aiming to be done. viz. ⁶⁴The *« keebing tbe water togetber in one firm compaar body, inſtead of Falfering it to dividle and diſperſe 8* it ſelf inc ↄa great varicty of ineffectual fireams,”“ no man, for a long ſeries of years, attempted to apply this fure an d certain re medy, to that particular part where, and where only, common reaſon muſt tell any one, it would have any good operation, namely, the outfall, but to ſome place at an imm men ſe it iſtance from it. Coul this wollioſe be owing to a want of Deneta tion
tion e5 Berſone, f he effect of whofe Pedn we have ſee en in theie our modern 8 2 Mr. Kinderley was the firſt man, who had penetration to diſcover the true cauſe of the e xiſting evils, or courage to break that ſpell of enchantment, by which all others Der⸗ held; yet when his ſcheme for improving the drainage below Wiſbech, was brought forward, Badſlade, who rook upon him to compile a Hi iſtory of the ens, aſherteg,*e that, n 1 f being of ſervice to a he North Level, it would render that Level in a port time irrelievable at all.“ It were eaſy to prove, if neceſſary, that this man was as falſe an hiſtori⸗ an, as he has tur Mac out to be a pro- phet, and yet his co mpilation is the main pillar on which ſome comprehenfive ſcheme is to be raiſed; and we are expected to bury in oblivion, all that has been done under our own noſes, by means entirely di fferent to any he has recommended. 1 take leave of the ſubject, by de-
claring my Jeun bin ion as follows, viz. Vain will be all embankments, without attention to the outfa II, and neceſſary, in a great meaſure, if the outfall is made good in the firſt in- ſtance; for if you lover che water at the out fall, you lower it ii evitably in the main river Lenemüoieenine with that Sllall Now every body, aenſateä with the country, knows the ſoil is of ſuch a nature, that by the friction of the water, and the uſe of ſpade machines, it may be ground to almoft any depth. A bank then is byt his operation alread) form ed 10 yO hands, by lowering the water below the furface of the whole Suntry„ and infinitel ly ſt neger than any that can poſſibly be conſtructed by art, to reſiſt water that flows above its lrodee level.
The conſequence of lowering the water in the main river, is the lowering it likewiſe in all the fobordinate rivers falling into it, and the navigation of theſe will be preſerved as he now are by fluices, and ee bec ds of them ground down to a level with the! bottoms of thoſe fluices, telorting in all caſes to manual labour where the ſoil happens to be too ſtrong to yield to the friction of the üheie machine. This and this only is thie rational way to obtain efficient banks; and the country will not ſurely for ever p. erſaſt in the gigantic ſcheme of heaping, as it were, moun a77 u Don mountain, without obtaini& y thing like ſecuri ity for that 2 obe ty eot, 5 75 the object at ſtate; for be it remembered, tha t afir all that can be done in ihe: rauſing 9 banks, our
money is wν/ 527; and it is on the out fall, AND THE OUTFALLONLY, that we muſt at laſt depen d for ſecurit 1).

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