INTRODUCTION'. XI 



mfembers, the late excellent William Benson Earl, efq; 

 •of Sarum, that he had left the Society one hundred guineas. 

 This generous donation has been dire£led to be comme- 

 morated in gold letters, on a tablet placed in the Society's 

 principal room-^and it is not fo placed without hope that 

 it may excite in other gentlemen fimilar inftances of publick 

 generofity. 



It may pofllbly be pleafing to fome of the readers of this 

 volume who are not members, and to members who from 

 their diftance are unable to attend the meetings and bufinefs 

 of their brethren, to know what are the topics which of 

 late have principally engaged their attentioil. They have 

 feen, in common with numerous well-wifhers to their coun- 

 try, the laudable endeavours ufed by the Board of Agri- 

 culture, to afcertain the real ftate of the lands of England, 

 Scotland, and Wales ; and have not been wanting to lend 

 their affiftance, by encouraging their moft capable members 

 to be aiding and affifting in that moft ufeful undertaking. 

 And having long had in contemplation, the great advan- 

 tages which they conceived muft refult from a more general 

 inclofure of open, and efpecially of negleSied open lands, 

 tlirough the kingdom, it was with peculiar fatisfadion that 

 they found the views of the Board extended to fo grand an 

 obje<Sl. A£luated by fuch fentiments, this Society was 

 early and earneft in a petition to Parliament, to favour the 

 bringing in of propofitions for a general Inclofure Bill : and 

 although that bufinefs has not yet been matured into the 

 pafllng of an a£l ; and fome fpeculative differences of opi- 

 nion may poflibly have operated, may continue to operate, 

 and may occafion fome delay; it is hoped that every mem- 

 ber of the Legillature will give it fo full a confideration as 

 to be able to judge fatisfavStorily of the meafurej — and it 



■i. 2 is 



