( x8 ) 



Meadoivs. — There is a very great extent of mea- 

 dows in this dillridl, not lefs than 40,000 acres. 

 They are in general of a rich fertile nature, owing 

 to the frequent overflowing of the waters, and pof- 

 fibly, no artificial means, in the prefent ftate of mat- 

 ters can be devifed for their improvement. Indeed, 

 the fjftem of watering meadows, or any other kind 

 of land, is feldom pradlifed here ; and it is but in 

 very few inftances, except along the banks of the 

 rivers, where the lands are capable of that im- 

 provement. The moft conliderable track of mea- 

 dow is that, on each fide of the river Men, begin- 

 ning feveral miles beyond Northampton, and, ex- 

 tending down to Peterborough, which, from the 

 circuitous diredtion, and various windings of the 

 river, between thefe two points, may be fuppo- 

 fed to pafs through a country of more than 60 miles 

 in extent. 



In the few inftances vyhere artificial means have 

 been ufed in watering thefe meadows, this mode of 

 improvement has exceeded the moft fanguine ex- 

 pedtation of the farmer, not only in producing a 

 quantity of grafs greatly more abundant than in 

 former years, but alfo in improving the quality. 

 But unfortunately for thofe occupying thefe mea- 

 dows, they are in general not only debarred from 

 ufuig the river, as a means of ameliorating the foil, 

 but when extraordinary floods take place, the crops 

 of hay are fo much damaged as to be comparatively 

 of little value. This happens in a great meafure 

 in confequence of different perfons having feparate 

 and oppofite interefts in this river. 



The perfons here meant are the proprietors of the 

 navigation, and thofe having right to ered mills, 

 between whom, and thofe interefted in the prefer- 

 vation of the meadows at large, many difputes a- 

 rife. If an arrangement could be eftedled, by which 

 a more uninterrupted courfe could be procured for 



the 



