DRAINAGE. 71 



them that should undertake so great a work. He adverts 

 to the fact that some " overthwart neighbours " (the Hol- 

 landers, to wit) had proposed to drain our fens on condition 

 of receiving one-third part of the land recovered. Against 

 this project the author argues with stubborn patriotism, 

 and shows the absurdity of our allowing foreigners to 

 "empty themselves " into our marshes, while we are send- 

 ing our own countrymen into Ireland, Bermuda, &c. Still 

 he is not wholly destitute of cosmopolitan feelings, as 

 evinced by the declaration, " neither yet would I be under- 

 stood to be so envious to strangers, as that I had rather 

 the water than they should possesse the land." The whole 

 treatise is quaint, clever, and entertaining. We have en- 

 deavoured in vain to obtain a printed copy. That which we 

 have (by the favour of a friend) is in manuscript. 



In addition to the two volumes by Mr. Wells to which 

 we have referred, we possess much valuable literature on 

 the subject of Fenland drainage in voluminous reports to 

 Parliament, in the works of Rennie and Telford, and in 

 the " Transactions of the Institution of Civil Engineers." 

 We cannot at the moment refer to any printed evidence of 

 Mr. Tycho Wing's services to the cause, but we know that 

 no man has laboured more assiduously to diffuse useful 

 knowledge among Fenmen, and to incite them to scientific 

 practice. Many publications, both ancient and modern, 

 have reference to the state of Holland, Zealand, Sleswick, 

 and Holstein, and to the creation of territory in those ex- 

 traordinary countries. The never-ceasing resistance which 

 is there carried on against a devouring element is of 

 the highest interest, both historical and scientific. This 

 subject, however, we pass by the more willingly, because a 

 very able article expressly devoted to it in the 174th No. 

 of the " Edinburgh Review," leaves little to be supplied or 

 desired. The student of Fenland literature will observe 

 two instances of the slow mariner in which great projects 

 ripen, though, when founded on a correct appreciation of 

 man's ability to add to his power or enjoyment, they seldom 



