370 On the Management of Waste Lands. OGt, 



trifling exceptions generally occurring on general rules and 

 obfervations. 



Many diificulties would occur to refpe^l in the inclofure 

 of the fe fields and waftes. The inti rclls and opinions, ge- 

 nerally difcordant, ot the different claimants \ the claims, fre- 

 quently unreafonablc, of the lord of the manor and tithe- 

 holder, added to the certainty of an enormous expence of 

 commiflioners, folicitors, &c. have rendered, in fome late 

 jnflances, lands inclofed by a6l of Parliament, as dear as if 

 aftually purchafed in fee-fimple. Thet'e prefent difcourage- 

 ments arc almoil infuptrable in the wayot thefe moft import- 

 ant improvements, in too many cafes ; ib that it has attual- 

 ly become a problem, whether it would not be a meafure of 

 found policy, for the government of any country fo fituated, 

 to alTume the power of alienating the wafle lands as public 

 property, for the real benefit of the public, and to fell them 

 to fuch as might incline to become purchafers ; referving a 

 preference in fome way to the claimants : But, whether or 

 not fo, is matter for difcufhon -, as there is no doubt thofe 

 who have lands adjoining, would purchafe the contiguous 

 lots, and the remainder would readily be fold by public auc- 

 tion. The refpe£tive claimants, by this mode, at the fame 

 time that they would render an efiential fervice to the fi- 

 nances of their country, would alio inclofe and gain pof- 

 fefhon of their lands at a much cheaper rate than by the 

 ordinary mode. The great difficulty at prefent is in the find- 

 ing of the average value, and fair and impartial allocation, in 

 due proportion to the value of claims, which is now fcarcely 

 ever fatisfaOoriJy done in any one inllance ; whereas, by the 

 other mode oi difpofal, nothing farther would be neceffary, 

 than fimply to make fale of the lot next adjohiing that laft 

 fold. Here, nobody would be wanted but a furveyor, and a 

 jury of the neighbourhpcd, to determine any qutftion that 

 might arife from particular circumftances. Thus might the 

 barren waftes, now the opprobrium of our national agricul- 

 ture, be converted into fruitful fields, the joy and glory of an 

 enlightened and ameliorated cultivation. 



W.P. 



TO 



