been already reaped. As a gleaner, Mr. T. is entitled to much commendation. His Report, tho concise, is not void of useful information.

Mr. Turner has properly divided the county into its NATURAL DISTRICTS, similar to those which I had previously marked out; and has reported them in the following order.

"Cotswold Hills,"-which may be considered as the district of his STATION.

"The Stroudwater Hills,"-an adjacent, and somewhat similar district.

"Vale of Berkeley,"-a low-lying dairy district.

"The Vale for a few miles round Glocester," namely, a small portion of the Vale of Glocester; and little more, it would seem, than the environs of the town.

"The Vale of Tewksbury, or what is more generally called the Vale of Evesham,"-meaning, of course, such part of the Vale of Evesham as lies within the county of Glocester.

"The Over-Severn district."-This indefinite appellation is applied to that part of the Vale of Glocester which lies on the west side of the Severn. The Reporter says (p. 46)-" It chiefly consists of the red lands of Herefordshire."-It is true that, in regard to soil, if not to management, it resembles Herefordshire rather than the Vale lands of Glocestershire that are situated on the east side of the river.

Away from the waterformed lands, the present banks of the river, the surface of the Over Severn District is broken; and the soil of a mixed quality; resembling, in these particulars, a mountain-skirt district,-which, in reality, it is;-being situated at the immediate foot of the May Hills, a range of mountain heights that divide in this part, the counties of Glocester and Hereford.

SEEING the very few particulars that require to be extracted, in either of those districts, I will bring the whole into one arrangement, noting the respective diss. trict to which each article of information belongs.

The number of pages fifty seven.

No map, or other engraving.

SUBJECT THE FIRST.

NATURAL ECONOMY.

CLIMATURE.-P.7. (Cotswold Hills)—"The Cotswold

hills, are milder than could be supposed, from their heighth and deficiency of shelter. The harvest, this last season, was begun in many places, the first week in August, and pretty generally by the second. There is however a difference of from one to three weeks, in the ripening of corn, in the different parts of the district under survey, which cannot be accounted for by management, or any outward circumstances." See the RURAL ECONOMY of GLOCESTERSHIRE, &c. on this interesting fact.

P. 41. (Vale of Tewksbury)- In climate, this district in general is earlier than round Gloucester."

SOILS.-P. 7. (Cotswolds)" The soil-is various; the greater part, what is here termed 'stone brash,' a loam intermixed with stones, on a subsoil of calcareous rubble or rock the average depth of ploughing not much exceeding four inches: there is however some quantity of stiff sour land interspersed on these hills, many farms and one or two whole parishes are chiefly of that nature. Near Fairford and Cirencester the soil is richer and deeper; particularly about the former a deep sandy loam prevails, producing great crops in a favourable time, but apt to burn and parch up in dry seasons; at which times they likewise labour under great inconveniences for want of water, with which the greater part of these hills is abundantly supplied."

P. 41. (Vale of Tewksbury)-" Soil, varies from sandy loams to clay, but mostly deep and rich."

MINERALS.-Coals.-P. 55. (Over the Severn)-In a letter to the Reporter, we find the following notice, respecting the coals of the Newent quarter of Glocestershire" In answer to your enquiries, respecting the vein of coal lately discovered at Borlsdon, near Newent, it was seven feet thick when they left off working. The great obstacle

*In the Forest of Dean (which Mr. Turner has not reported) coals are found, and worked, in great quantities.

obstacle to continuing the works, was, the want of an engine to draw off the water. The property in that neighbourhood, is divided into small parcels, coal probably is under the grounds of all the different proprietors thereabouts, and should any one person erect a fire engine, he would drain the adjacent grounds, as well as his own, and would of consequence, subject himself to be undersold. To work the pits therefore, to advantage, either a company should be formed, or stipulations entered into by the neighbours, to make one common purse for the engine."

SUBJECT THE SECOND.

POLITICAL ECONOMY.

STATE OF APPROPRIATION. To this important subject

of political concern, Mr. Turner's industry has been commendably directed. The common-field and commonmeadow state of agriculture,-now so disgraceful to the political economy of a country which has more inhabitants than it can support,-we find scarcely any where more prevalent than in Glocestershire; where of course its pernicious tendency is most evident and best understood.

P. 10. (Cotswolds)" Probably no part of the kingdom has been more improved within the last forty years, than the Cotswold Hills. The first inclosures are about that standing; but the greater part are of a later date. Three parishes are now inclosing; and out of about thirteen, which still remain in the common field state, two I understand are taking the requisite measures for an inclosure; the advantages are great, rent more than doubled, the produce of every kind proportionably increased."

P. 23. (Cotswolds)-speaking of "the burdens that the farming world in general labor under," Mr. T. says,— "Among these, the payment of tythes in kind deserve to be mentioned. In the new inclosures, this load has been got rid of by giving up a part of the property in lieu of it. One-fifth of the arable, and one-ninth of the pasture, and in some instances, two-ninths of one, and one-eighth of the other, has been asked, and agreed to. As the impropriator is exonerated from all expences, except inside fences, the part that he takes is more than equal to a fourth of the arable land, even when one-fifth is allowed; but

even then the improvements being entirely the proprietors, they have been obliged to acquiesce."

P. 39. (Vale of Glocester). "I know one acre which is divided into eight lands, and spread over a large common field, so that a man must travel two or three miles to visit it all. But though this is a remarkable instance of minute division, yet, it takes place to such a degree, as very much to impede all the processes of husbandry. But this is not the worst; the lands shooting different ways, some serve as headlands to turn on in ploughing others; and frequently when the good manager has sown his corn, and it is come up, his slovenly neighbour turns upon, and cuts up more for him, than his own is worth. It likewise makes one occupier subservient to another in cropping his land; and in water furrowing, one sloven may keep the water on, and poison the lands of two or three industrious neighbours. If the several interests in these fields could be reconciled, the different properties laid together, and an inclosure take place, there is no doubt, but, from the improved state of the land, from its being laid dry and healthy, with the introduction of a correct course of crops, more than double the quantity of corn would be raised."

P. 41. (Vale of Tewkesbury)-"A large proportion of this district is arable, and mostly common field, but subject to a regular course of crops.

"Here, as in the neighbourhood of Gloucester, there is a considerable quantity of lot meadow, which is common after hay-making. There are likewise in several parts of the district, summer common pastures for cattle and sheep."

P. 44. (Vale of Tewksbury)-"The parish of Kemerton was inclosed, and exempted from tithe, about the year 1772, since which time the rent is very much advanced, and the produce more than doubled. Population likewise very much increased."

P. 49. (Over Severn)-" Part of the district is inclosed with live hedges; some part is still common field. I am informed from good authority, that between 300 and 400 acres of common field in the tithing of Aure, now let at about 10s. per acre, would, if inclosed, be worth more than 25s. being much better adapted for pasture than tillage. This tithing has likewise a very rich common pasture of about 100 acres, which joining other commons, and, as is generally the case, being much trespassed and encroached on, is of very little use to the proprietors, but might by inclosure be made very valuable.

"The

"The quantity of common and waste land in the district is considerable. The forest of Dean, now pretty much. thinned of its timber, subject to common rights, and considerably encroached on, consists chiefly of stiff soil, and might, if appropriated, be converted to the purposes of agriculture with very great advantage to the nation.

Corse Lawn contains about 2000 acres, 1400 of which are situated in the parish of Corse. The proprietors are now making application for an inclosure. A paper printed and distributed by the promoters of this application, containing some very good reasons in favour of the inclosure, will accompany this Report for the inspection of the Board.*

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Huntley Common, a considerable tract of land, now of very little use, might, by inclosure, be rendered very valuable to the proprietors and the nation.

"Gorsly Common contains from 300 to 400 acres of land, chiefly on a lime-stone rock, very applicable for orcharding and corn, but in its present state nearly useless.

These are the principal waste lands in the district; there are other smaller tracts: these wastes, in their present state, are not only of very little real utility, but are productive of one very great nuisance, that of the erection of cottages, by idle and dissolute people, sometimes from the neighbourhood, and sometimes strangers. The chief building materials are store poles, stolen from the neighbouring woods. These cottages are seldom or never, the abode of honest industry, but serve for harbour to poachers and thieves of all descriptions."

For some particulars relating to the present state of the common fields, in the vale of Tewksbury,---see the head, Sheep, ensuing.

PROVISIONS. Mr. Turner is not an enemy to alchouses, only; but to chandlers' shops. It may be remarked, however, that VILLAGE SHOPS (now become common in most parts of the kingdom) may in some situations, save much time of workpeople, which might otherwise be spent in attending distant markets; thereby alienating their attention, from home, and constant employment; and spending more money in idle company, than they might save by the cheapness of their bargains. I will, nevertheless insert Mr. T's remarks; as they are evidently the result of some thought on the subject,

P. 26. "Chandlers shops are nearly as great a nuisance

This paper does not appear.