24 
Trunk Drainage. 
portant, point — the exorbitant amount of land to be allotted to 
the undertakers. In a fresh project, a few years after, a new 
feature was introduced into drainage by contract ; the commis- 
sioners refused to sanction any scheme which appeared to grasp 
at tiie fen -land, declaring that they had no power to take away 
any man's land without his voluntary assent, and deciding that 
the drainers', recompense should be " a moiety of the clear profit 
which they should bring to each particular owner," the ground 
to be valued before and after the work. But no such fair prin- 
ciple of contract was acted upon when the actual drainage was 
performed, or at least so far attempted that the Bedford Level 
Avas placed under a Corporation, perpetually constituted, and its 
principal powers defined. In fact the first general drainage of 
the Fens was not undertaken with the goodwill, or for the benefit 
of the people most interested in it, but, in nearly every case, 
without their consent, and against their feelings and wishes. It 
was neither so well conducted nor so satisfactorily performed, as 
such an enterprise would be at the present day ; and undoubtedly 
bad it been deferred until the principle of duly representing all 
interests had become more widely recognised, and the public then 
gained over to the idea, the work long ago would have been as 
completely and heartily executed as it has finally been. 
The opposing interests in the Fens have been appeased in 
different ways. Owners of common-rights have had their 
grounds improved over and above the cost in drainage taxes. 
When inclosures have subdivided these, there have been awarded 
allotments or compensation. Where fisheries have been dried 
up, or turbaries invaded, due compensation bas had to be paid, 
and of course drainers have always purchased ground for their 
works, and were supposed to pay <a compensation to the country 
for the ancient works they appropriated. But there were classes 
who suffered severely, consisting of fowlei-s, fishers, villagers of 
all sorts, who had liired the common-rights, waters, or turbary 
g-rounds, &c., and, losing the means of earning an independent 
livelihood, were reduced to the servitude of day labour upon the 
newly tillaged Fens. The great opponent, however, was always 
navigation ; corn, fuel, and merchandize of all kinds, had been 
floated in barges along the main rivers, between the Inland towns 
and the seaports ; and some considerable controvei'sy was generally 
required to settle the terms on which the watermen should be 
tolled for making use of the straighter, deeper, speedier com- 
munication of the Improved rivers. A still greater jealousy has 
always been exhibited by the more important navigation Interests 
of the commercial seaports, lest tlieir ports should be Injured by 
the improvements in the river outfalls. But the wisdom drawn 
from experience is gradually reconciling the harbour interests, 
