I 39 3 



satisfaction, its happy effects on the health and comfort of the in- 

 habitants of the adjacent villages. Agnes, and low fevers from the 

 humidity of the air, impregnated with exhalations from the stag- 

 nant contents of the marshes, prevailed very generally during the 

 vernal and autumnal seasons, and these for the most part were ob- 

 stinate and more frequently subdued by the drought and heat of 

 summer, and frost of winter, than by the most judicious medical 

 treatment. Inclosing and draining have rendered these diseases as 

 scarce in the /<?zv, as in the uplands, to the prevention whereof ad- 

 vance of wages (from four to six-pence per day) with constant em- 

 ploy arising from the same cause, have not a little contributed, by 

 enabling the poor to live better, which is generally accompanied 

 with a growm? taste for cleanliness. 



The third objection to inclosing, is to the expence attending the act of 

 parliament, laith those of commissioners and other subordinate agents em- 

 ployed in its execution, 



I do not mean to contend, that rigid ceconomy, and expert ma- 

 nagement have been prominent features in this line of public busi- 

 ness. I am ready to acknowledge, that in some instances it has 

 been justly chargeable with profusion, mismanagement, and unne- 

 cessary delay. On this subject, truth and justice oblige me to add, 

 that in several instances within my own cognizance, the most enor- 

 mous expence has been wantonly incurred in obtaining the act, nay 

 double at least beyond the most liberal estimate of a fair and equi- 

 table charge. 



In these cases the excess arose from the attendance of supernu- 

 maries in London, under the pretence of securing and expediting 

 the bill, without rendering the least service in that, or any other 

 way. Charges of this sort are not subject to the control or regula- 

 tion of the commissioners, since they originate previous to their 

 appointment, and should they refuse payment, a law suit of hazard- 

 ous issue might ensue, which if unsuccessful, would expose them to 

 reproach from the proprietors. The blame therefore must attach 

 to the latter, for not exercising more vigilance, at the outset of the 

 business. After passing the bill, delay in the execution so as to with- 

 hold the possession of allotments from the proprietors, for a year, 

 or two, more than necessary has been imputable, and with some 

 color of justice, to the negligence and inattention of the commis- 



F 2 sioners. 



