»■ ] 



at twopence, per bushel. One of the works is under contract to 

 serve the glass-houses, some time since erected in the parish of 

 Nailsea, at one penny farthing per bushel. 



These glass-houses consume about 2000 bushels weekly. The 

 deepest work is 42 fathom. The principal vein is five feet thick ; 

 sometimes more. The coal takes a south pitch or inclination 

 never exceeding two feet in a fathom. Little timber is used ; but 

 they are much incommoded with water ; for the rock which lies 

 above the coal so abounds with fissures, that there is no method of 

 preventing the land water from pervading the bottom of the 

 works. 



When the top veins are exhausted and the proprietors are corn- 

 compelled to go deeper, it is a matter of doubt whether any 

 power of a steam engine may be competent to the task of keeping 

 them dry. 



A scheme is on foot to make a canal from the city of Bristol 

 through this vale to Loxtone, near Axbridge ; and from thence to 

 the town of Taunton : but whether it will be carried into execu- 

 tion, or abandoned, time only can tell. 



The lands in this vale are very fruitful ; and a considerable part 

 thereof are the property of two gentlemen of fortune and respecta- 

 bility. These gentlemen, from the the bell of motives, have been 

 long in the habit of letting their estates at the old rents, though 

 the price of the articles of produce has in the course of thirty 

 years advanced one third at least. 



How far such acts of kindness may be considered as just to a 

 man's family, or conducive to the public weal, I much doubt, , 

 from the experience which I have had in the agricultural world, 

 I have invariably found lands so occupied, in a much worse estate, - 

 than those of neighbouring farmers, moderately advanced. 



An equitable partition of the advantages, resulting from an 

 increase of trade and population, cannot by any reasonable tenant . 

 be objected to. The one system produces care and exertion — the 

 other indolence and sloth. 



Let us now return to the south-west, and survey the parishes of 

 Churchill, Hutton, Banwell, Locking, West-Super-Mare, and 

 Uphill, See. Sec, Sec, 



These ,• 



