E '73 J 



This forest extends from north to south about eight miles, ana 

 from east to west ten or twelve ; containing, according to an ac- 

 curate survey lately made, about nineteen thousand nine hundred 

 acres. Nearly at the centre of this large tract of land, is an estate 

 called Simonsbatb, inclosed, and consisting of about two hundred 

 acres, with a dwelling house, licenced and frequented as an inn ; 

 and all offices belonging to it convenient for the management of 

 the farm, and transacting the concerns of the forest. Here the 

 forester has an annual sale for the small horses that are bred on the 

 surrounding hills; and here also during the month of May, he 

 meets the farmers from all the country round, who enter in his 

 books the number of sheep which are depastured with him, at the 

 rate of live pence per head. The small horses (in the whole up- 

 wards of four hundred) are not taken into better keeping, nor to 

 more sheltered grounds, during the severest winter. When the 

 snow covers the forest to the depth of many feet, these hardy ani- 

 mals are seen in droves, traversing the little vallies and sheltered 

 parts, gathering their scanty fare from the banks of rivulets, and 

 warm springs, but the sheep are almost all driven off for the winter^ 

 in the months of November, December, and January, according as 

 the season is more or less severe. 



The river Barl runs adjoining to this estate, but resigns its 

 name, on being joined by a small stream about two miles to the 

 east called the Ex. This stream takes its rise in a low swampy 

 8pot of ground, about two miles north east of Simonsbath, and 

 runs to the other end of the forest ; becomes when joined by the 

 JBarl, a very considerable river, and in its passage to Exmouth 

 passes by Bampton, Tiverton, and Exeter, to which, and Exmouth* 

 it seems to give name, as well as to this extensive forest. 



Into these rivers, Barl, and Ex, a number of small rivulets from 

 every direction are constantly pouring their streams, and, should 

 ever a general inclosure be attempted, offer an opportunity of wa- 

 tering some hundreds of acres. The water in these rivulets seem 

 of the purest kind; it is not impregnated with any noxious mi- 

 neral, and the soil, beyond any doubt, is favorable to vegeta- 

 tion. 



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