t »3> '] 



very fully, and shall therefore only remark to those who are ii> 

 fluenced by a humane regard to the right, and comfort of the cot- 

 tager, that very few habitations of that description are to be fouad 

 near these moors ; and a great part of those which do exist, possess 

 rights, which when divided, may be worth two or three hundred 

 pounds, and if sold, will enable a man to rent an estate of one 

 hundred pounds per annum, and to keep twenty or thirty cows, in 

 the management whereof his whole family would become useful, 

 and habits of industry, care, and oeconomy, would by degrees be 

 established. 



Adjoining this extensive plain on the south side, lies a tract of 

 elevated land, composed principally of sea sand, and shells ; well 

 adapted to the purposes of tillage, and in its nature so fertile, that 

 potatoes, turnips, carrots, hops, madder, liquorice, and indeed al- 

 most every root, or plant useful in husbandry, might be grown on 

 it in high perfection. 



The arable is for the most part in common fields, and though 

 exhausted by constant cropping, lets for near thirty shillings per 

 acre. The wheat produced is of prime quality; and as to barley, 

 it is supposed that Ched-zoy, Westonzoyland, Middlezoy, and 

 "Othery, produce the best in the county. Were the common field 

 lands of these parishes divided into separate property, a portion of 

 the new allotments in Sedgmoor annexed ; and the whole comprized 

 in farms of four or five hundred pounds per year, and let to some 

 enlightened sheep and turnip farmers, these parishes might vie with 

 any in the kingdom, both as to the quantity and quality of produce ; 

 but this cannot be effected whilst the lands are held by the present 

 tenure. They are now occupied by small farmers holding under 

 lives, some one life, some two, and- a few three, without any 

 power, or prospect of renewing. 



It were to be wished, that all Lords of Manors possessing estates 

 leased out on lives, would continue to grant renewals ; and by so 

 doing, I verily think they would promote their own interest; for 

 though it must be acknowledged, that the leasing out a property 

 upon three lives, at the usual price of fourteen or fifteen years pur- 

 chase, is unfavorable to the interest of the grantor, yet I think that 

 when an estate has been so leased out; it is more his interest to 



renew., 



