C 184 ] 



Eafl bounds of the county, and is fubjeft to the de- 

 pafturage of the cattle, horfes, and fheep, of thirty- 

 two pariflies or townftiips in the neighbourhood, 

 which comprize what is commonly called the Soke 

 of Peterborough. The farmers who live in the 

 townfliips immediately adjoining, confider their right 

 of commonage as of no value to them ; and it may 

 therefore be fuppofed that thofe who live at the dif- 

 tance of eight or ten miles cannot be much benefited 

 thereby. Indeed, confider ing the prefent mode of 

 management, it is impoflible that any advantage can 

 arife to the perfons having right therein. That it 

 is a valuable tra£t of land, however, if under proper 

 cultivation, is fully afcertaiued from the following 

 circumftance: — The annual expence of keeping the 

 drains, bridges, &c. in proper repair is confiderable, 

 and the means adopted by thofe concerned, for rai- 

 ling a fund for this purpofe, is to let a certain num- 

 ber of acres to fome tenant in the neighbourhood 

 for a courfe of corn-cropping, for three or four 

 years, when it generally lets at from 3I. to 5I. per 

 acre. From this account it may be fafely dated, 

 that if thefe fix or feven thoufand acres were con- 

 verted into private property, and divided into farms 

 of a proper fize, the whole might be rented on 

 leafes of moderate endurance, at from 20s. to 30s. 

 per acre; and it may be further obferved, that the 

 produce of thefe lands, under that fyflem, would 



exceed 



