( 249 ; 



in fpite of the care my own fhepherd certainly 

 took, my.fheep were difperfed over a fen confid- 

 ing of twelve thouiand acres. 



Their difperfion is eafily accounted for. 

 There always are near commons an indubi- 

 ous ingenious let of men, whofe bufinefc it is 

 to look after flock for hire, and of: en for men 

 who have no right of common. But, be that 

 as in may, the better the flock do under their 

 care, the more employ they get. Therefore it 

 becomes the intereft of thefe fhepherds to di- 

 flurb every neighbouring flock, to make more 

 room for fuch as are committed to them; and 

 as they all have an intereft to do the fame thing, 

 it becomes a combinar : on of unjufl doers. Men 

 of this defcription are awake while others of an 

 oppofite difpofition fleep. Call upon any of 

 thefe fellows in the day time; if you find them 

 at all, it muft be in bed. They rife with the 

 owl, and, like that bird, feek their prey by night. 

 Late in the evening, one of thefe men mounts 

 his horfe, and, accompanied by three or four 

 dogs, goes amongll your fheep. He general- 

 ly takes a few of thofe under his care, by way 

 of excufe, and will drive half a dozen of them 



into 

 Vol. I. I i 



