174 
NATURAL HISTORY 
We have had a very wet autumn and winter, fo as to raife the 
fprings to a pitch beyond any thing fince 1764; which was a re- 
markable year for floods and high waters. The land-fprings, 
which we call lavants, break out much on the downs of Sujfex, 
Hampjhire, and Wiltjhire. The country people fay when the lavants 
rife corn will always be dear ; meaning that when the earth is fo 
glutted with water as to fend forth fprings on the downs and 
uplands, that the corn- vales muft be drowned : and fo it has 
proved for thefe ten or eleven years paft. For land-fprings have 
never obtained more fmce the memory of man than during that 
period ; nor has there been known a greater fcarcity of all forts of 
grain, confidering the great improvements of modern hulbandry. 
Such a run of wet feafons a century or two ago would, I am per- 
fuaded, have occafioned a famine. Therefore pamphlets and 
newfpaper letters, that talk of combinations, tend to inflame and 
miflead ; fince we muft not exped plenty till Providence fends 
us more favourable feafons. 
The wheat of laft year, all round this diftrid, and in the county 
of Rutland, and elfewhere, yields remarkably bad: and our 
wheat on the ground, by the continual late fudden viciflitudes from 
fierce froft to pouring rains, looks poorly; and the turnips rot 
very faft. 
I am, Sec. 
LETTER 
