, [ 156 ] 



in the common. When a common is divided, every 

 perfon fhould be allowed to improve his own part 

 of it in the befl way he can or will. His own inte- 

 reft, in forty-nine inftances out of fifty, would foon 

 lead him to promote the publick good, by making 

 his own lands produce to himfelf the greateft crops 

 at the mofl moderate expence. It might be for the 

 advantage of the individuals, and of the publick at 

 large, to give direftions, and fome pecuniary or ho- 

 norary alTiftance, in different parts of the kingdom, 

 to a few publick-fpirited and liberal-minded propri- 

 etors, or tenants, of fome of thefe divided commons, 

 that, by their example and the richnefs of their 

 crops, they may lead on to improvements the other 

 proprietors and tenants of the divided wades. 



Survey of Staffordshire, p. 66, 



BY MR. W. PITT. 



The waftes and unimproved lands of this county 

 are very confiderable, and certainly, in the prefent 

 flate of population, their cultivation and improve- 

 ment is very much a national objeft. The mofl: ex- 

 tenfive waftes, or uncultivated fpots in the county 

 are, Needwood-forefl:, Cannock-heath, and Sutton- 

 Coldfieldj befides a great number of commons of 

 lefs extent, and fome confiderable tracts in the moor- 

 lands and elfewherCj appropriated and inclofed, but 



not improved, 



Needwood- 



