[ 10 ] 



Down will not admit of cultivation; the Limestone Rock being 

 within two or three inches of the surface. It is probable that this 

 land will pay more as pasture than any other way. But the chief 

 inconvenience arises from the unlimited right of stocking ; by 

 which it is burthened with double the number it ought to have, the 

 breed of neat cattle is greatly injured, and, in respect to sheep, 

 the quantity of wool lessened, though it must be admitted that the 

 quality of such wool is improved in respect to fineness. To illus- 

 trate this observation respecting over-stocking, I shall state a case 

 in point. A farmer of this district some years since put twenty- 

 five head of steers and heifers into a piece of commonable 



land. The spring being unfavourable to the purchase of cattle, 

 and a considerable fatality having prevailed the preceding winter, 

 the common was ?noderately stocked ; in consequence of which a 

 profit of 2I. per head was made between the months of April and 

 November. Encouraged by this success, and flattering himself 

 with the prospect of similar profit, he purchased the next year 100 

 head: but others following his example, he, to his great mortifi- 

 cation, found that, instead of profit, he suffered a loss of nearly 

 one hundred pounds. 



From these premises may it not be fairly inferred, that the in- 

 closing and dividing of commons, even in cases where the plough 

 cannot prudently be introduced, is beneficial both to the individual 

 and the public ; as the owner can then apportion his stock to the 

 quantity and quality of his land, and can have them at all times 

 under his eye. But of this subject more by and by. 



At Clapton, a village lying to the. north west of Leigh Down, 

 there is a coal work which possesses the advantage of a land-level 

 of forty-four fathoms. At this pit are landed about 240 bushels 

 dai4y. The best coal is sold at threepence-halfpenny per bushel, 

 and the small is shipped at Portishead point for Wales, where it is 

 used for burning lime. 



South east of Leigh Down is a vale of rich grass land, extend- 

 ing from Bedminster at the north east, to Brockley and Nailsea at 

 the south west. 



Under this level are supposed to be inexhaustible veins of coal. 



At present they land 2roo bushels a day. The best coal is sold at 



.threepence-halfpenny, the middle sort at threepence, and the small 



at 



