f 222 ] 



Laflly, let me offer fome remarks on the 

 great improvement carrying on of inclo- 

 fures ; but this will require a more diffu- 

 five examination. There is fcarcely any 

 point in rural ceconomics more generally 

 acknowledged, than the great benefits of 

 inclofing open lands : fome authors, it is 

 true, have attacked them as fuppofitious, 

 and afferted them to be a national difad- 

 vantage, of trivial ufe to the proprietors, 

 but very mifchievous to the poor. My refi- 

 dence in this part of Vorkjlrire brought (at 

 firil accidentally) to my knowledge fome 

 particulars reipccting the merits of inclo- 

 fing, and the means commonly purfued in 

 the execution, which are not to be found 

 in the face of any afts of parliament what- 

 ever; but which are certainly of impor- 

 tance in weighing and deciding the advan- 

 tages of the meafure. To give ydu a 

 tolerable idea of thefe circumftances, it will 

 be neceilary to {ketch the progrefs of an 

 inclofure, as it generally is conducted, 

 without any eye to legal forms, or the letter 

 of the act. 



I. The proprietors of large eftates gene- 

 ra 1 !/ agree upon the meafure, adjuft the 

 principal points among themfelves, and 

 fix upon their attorney before they appoint 

 any general meeting of all the propri- 

 etors. The fmall proprietor, whofe pro- 

 perty 



