[ 40 ] 



sioners. It must be acknowledged such conduct is truly reprehen- 

 sible; since under many ihclosures, especially of low lands, of 

 prime quality, the loss of even a year's occupation, if the inclosure 

 be of considerable extent, might be deemed nearly equivalent to a 

 moiety of the expence. In this neighbourhood for some years past 

 this defect has been in great measure remedied ; for unless their pro- 

 ceedings have been interrupted by issues at law, or the inclosure 

 has been of great extent, the commissioners have given the proprie- 

 tors possession of their allotments within a year from passing the- 

 act. This dispatch requires a considerable share of judgment and 

 exertion on the part of the commissioners, as well as sufficient lei- 

 sure and activity on the part of the surveyor. Another error in 

 management relates to the expence of meetings, which heretofore 

 was very improperly augmented by the attendance of some of the 

 principal commoners for purposes of festivity, without being of the 

 least use, rather retarding than forwarding the business. This prac- 

 tice was general, but for some years past has been for the most part 

 abolished, by a very judicious regulation of allowing the commis- 

 sioners and their agents a certain sum per day as a compensation 

 for attendance and expences. 



The public will be enabled to judge in what degree the expence 

 of inclosing ought to affect its determinations under the present 

 course of management, by adducing the following specimens of a 

 moor low land, and a Mendip, or upland inclosure. 



Low Land. £• s. d. 



Act of Parliament 510 o o 



Roads 450 o o 



Subdivision, Rhynes, or Ditches, 8 feet*] 



wide at top, 4 feet at bottom, and 5 I 



feet deep. Price of digging from I 



is. 2d. to 2s. per rope (20 feet) J 



Gates, Bridges 140 00 



Commissioners (3) 200 o o 



Clerk . 60 o © 



Surveyor 140 o o 



Award and other Law expences . . . 110 o o 



Interest of Money borrowed . . , . . 25 o o 



3485 o o 

 - 2 Upland 



