( *57 ) 



effectually with the aflldance of a. main drain 

 and an outfall. 



I have mentioned the bed common in Eng- 

 land : and even that common, I infift upon it, 

 is no better than a nuifance. Commons are 

 harbours and nurferies for thieves. I was on 

 the jury when three men were indicted at York 

 aflizes for flealing fome fheep from commons in 

 Craven : and it came out in proof upon trial, 

 that thefe men had dealt largely, though not 

 pofTefTed of a capital. Their trade was thiev- 

 ing: and they were ingenious men in their 

 way, all of one family, father and two fons. 

 The elded fon patted for a jobber in fheep : and 

 the father, with the youngeft fon, lived nine 

 miles diftant from him. The elded fon col- 

 lected a tolerable flock, by dealing a fiLgle 

 (heep from thofe he was difpofed to favour j 

 two or three from other people, and fo on. He 

 would likewife buy a few, then mix them all 

 together, and drive them to the old man's farm. 

 Thefe fheep were but of fmall value, worth 

 from five to feven fhillings each -, which de- 

 terred the owners from incurring the expence 

 of a profecution : although many of the fuffer- 



ers 

 Vol. I. K k 



