5. YORKSHIRE. 53 



fure) at 3s. to 50s. an acre rent ; and of a 

 ftill greater quantity of heathy barren land, 

 reaching to the center of the morelands, va- 

 lued (by the famej from below 3s. down to 

 3d. an acre. The quantity of oxgang or 

 common-field land fas above alcerrainedj 

 2376 acres ; and the number of ancient com- 

 mon-right houfes, or fites of fuch houfcs, two 

 hundred and fixty. 



To thofe 2376 acres *, and thefe 260 

 houfes or fitcs, the commons belonged ; but 

 in what proportion had not for ages perhaps 

 been clearly underflood. Within memory, 

 it feems, an attempt was made to Hint them j 

 but the regulation laftedonly one year. Be- 

 fore and fince that time they have been, in 

 the flridtefi: fenfe of the word, unjlinted com- 

 mons, for all kinds of commonable flock ; 

 excepting flieep and working oxen ; which 

 lafl were, by the by-lazvs of the tozvjiJJoip, con- 

 fined to the fllntcd palUircs and the upland 

 commons ; and the former to the upland 

 commons only. 



It may be taken for granted, that the firlt 

 mover to an inclofure is private intereft, ra- 

 ther than public fpirit. In the cafe of Pic- 

 E 3 kering.^ 



* TofT'.ther with the meadow lands. 



