[ 95 ] 



The quantities thus inclosed in Brent Marsh within twenty ycars^ 



past, under authority of Parliament, are as follow : (viz,) 



Acres. 



„ T , j A/r ,. f together with 1100 acres of turf 



Wedmore and Meat 4400 ( *> bog as yet unimprovcd# 



17400 2800 



Of thefe 17,400 acres, six parts out of seven are cleared of stag- 

 nant water, and rendered highly productive ; on the turf bog but 

 little improvement has hitherto taken place. There remain about 

 3000 acres to be inclosed, which (the turf bogs excepted) will 

 compleat the division of all the moors within the Brent Marsh 

 district. It is not to be understood, that the local drains, under 

 such a variety of acts, and at such different times, can have the 

 most perfect influence on the country, particularly when it is con- 

 sidered that the river Axe has no barrier to the tide, which flows 

 several miles and choaks the lower part of it with slime, to such a 

 degree, that many thousand acres adjoining the upper parts of the 

 river are, in consequence thereof, very much injured. Were a 

 barrier with proper sluices ere&ed near the Bristol Channel, some 

 cf the most considerable windings of the river shortened, and the 

 shallow parts deepened, not only the moors but the old inclosures 

 u odd be greatly benefited thereby. 



N 2 The 



