34 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 



were very sound and in high perfection, were winter-cut, 

 viz., in February and March, before the bark would run. 

 In old times The Holt was estimated to be eighteen miles, 

 computed measure from water-carriage, viz., from the town 

 of Chertsey, on the Thames; but now it is not half that 

 distance, since the Wey is made navigable up to the town 

 of Godalming in the county of Surrey. 1 



1 Mr. Harting gives the following note on the above passages (ed. " Selborne," 

 p. 32) : " Mr. Bennett ascertained that the defendants in these actions, though 

 they made a show of resistance, suffered judgment to go by default. The question 

 of right had, in fact, been tried in 1741, and determined against the claimants. 

 Yet notwithstanding this, so soon after as 1788, on the occasion of another fall of 

 timber in The Holt, the people of Frensham again assembled and carried off 

 openly upwards of six thousand faggots. So difficult is it to convince where interest 

 opposes." 



"The formation of the Basingstoke Canal has again reduced the distance of 

 The Holt from water-carriage ; and it is now accessible, either at Odiham or 

 Bagman's Castle, within about seven miles." [R. B. S.] 



