5- YORKSHIRE. 89 



claimed the whole ; but the lands hnppening^ 

 in that cafe, to employ the better forces, they 

 wen the day. Almoft the whole foreft was 

 divided amonc: the land-owners : even a 

 meffijage did not fliare, on the bed land, 

 more than two acres. The land-owners had 

 offcircd the houfe -owners a greater propor- 

 tion ; but they chofe to take their chance in 

 a court, as other defperadoes do their chance 

 in a lortcrv — a landed eflate, or nothing; ; 

 and, it is laid, what fome of them got did 

 nor pav their extra -expenccs. Here the 

 pr.or man loft his right ; a circumHance 

 which renders the cafe of Knarefborough 

 harder than that of Pickering. 



Thefe are facts which appear to be fuf- 

 ficiently ftriking to induce Parliament to 

 efiabllfh fome general principles of Inclofure, 

 and to enquire thcmfelves into the rights of 

 claimants : or, if a committee of Parliament 

 cannot conveniently determ.ine, to order refe- 

 rence to a commilTion of independ^^nt dif- 

 interefted men in the immediate neighbour- 

 hood of the fite of Inclofure ; who havinp- 

 perfonal knowledge of the prcmifcs and the 

 claiming parties, are bed enabled to judge of 



their 



