( 30 ) 



thefe commons, is liable to fo many dilcafes and 

 accidents, as one year with another, nearly counter- 

 balances any advantages which can be derived trom 

 pofleffing this right ; while, on the other hand, the 

 keeping fuch extenlive tracks of land in a ftate of 

 commonage, is attended with one very great dif- 

 advantage to the farmers in the neighbourhood, 

 becuufe, while thefe rights of commonage are con- 

 tinued, no attention whatever will be paid to the 

 improvement of the breed of Hock ; for it is not 

 to be fuppofed, that a farmer who depends on the 

 fcanty food which thefe commons afford for the 

 maintenance of his cattle, horfes and fheep, will ever 

 be at much expence or trouble for the improvement 

 of the different breeds. Without enumerating all the 

 various commons of fmall extent, fituated in diffe- 

 rent parts of the county, or the nature or extent of 

 the common rights of pafturage, poffeffed by thofe 

 who refide in the neighbourhood of the forefts and 

 chafes, it may only be neceffary here to mention 

 particularly that of 



THE GREAT PETERBOROUGH FEN. 



A track of fine level land, containing between fix 

 and feven thoufand acres, of a foil equal to any per- 

 haps in the kingdom of Great Britain, and fufcep- 

 tible of the higheft cultivation. It is fituated be- 

 tween Petei-borough and Crowland, towards the 

 north-eaft bounds of the county, and is fubjedt to 

 the depafturage of the cattle, horfes and fheep of 32. 

 parilbes or townfliips in the neighbourhood, which 

 comprife what is commonly called the Soke of Pe- 

 terborough, i he farmers who live in the townfhips 

 immediately adjoining, confider their right of com- 

 monage as of no value to them ; and it may there- 

 fore be fuppofed, that thofe who live at the diftance 

 of 8 or 10 miles cannot be much benefited thereby^ 

 Indeed, conlidering the preient mode of manage- 

 ment. 



