they might afford in a commercial or hostile point of view, against the efforts of our enemies. Will the Government then continue less attentive to the realizing of such important advantages, and those in the very heart of the empire, at the very threshold of the throne? Surely it ought not." FUEL P. 389. "Through all the woodland parts of this county, the peasantry are tolerably well supplied with fuel, and which is obtained by a claim they exercise pretty freely, of taking what is called snapwood, that is, all the fallen branches, and such as they can snap off by hand, or break down with a hook fixed in the end of a long pole: for this purpose they have been observed to visit most of the demesnes, and private as well as other woodlands through the county.

3. "When this resource fails, turf pared from off the beaths and commons is easily obtained, as it may generally be purchased dry for about 68. per thousand. These, in some parts of the county, the farmers bring home to the labourers, for so much of the ashes as the labourer may be able to afford, after manuring his garden, potatoe, or cabbage patch.

"Peat cut and dried, affords another resource for fuel to the peasantry of the country."

MANUFACTURES.-P. 6. "Its manufactures consist of woollens, leather, silk, bed-tickings, and the coarser kind of earthen-ware; and in the naval arsenal at Portsmouth, may be seen one of the most important magazines in the united kingdom."

For a note concerning the seacoast Salt Works of Hampshire, see Embankments, ensuing. See also the article Markets, ensuing.

POOR TAX. In an extract, from Mr. Warner's Isle of Wight, may be seen (p. 296, aforegoing) a plan for consolidating the Poor Rates of parishes, and building “a house of industry."

Of this establishment Mr. Vancouver speaks favorably. Such a plan is by no means peculiar to the Isle of Wight. But an establishment of that sort, unless it be put, and kept, under the wisest and most strict regulations, will ever become, like other houses of industry and manufacture, a nursery of vice; especially to the young; and, in many cases, a heart-rending prison to the aged. I was willingly led to hope that the measure had been altogether abandoned, rather than to hear it recommended by a man of mind and observation*

More will appear on this topic, in Young's Sussex, ensuing..

Mr. Vancouver's political tables have been mentioned, (p. 302, aforegoing). In an abstract of those tables, the "total of the money raised by poor and other rates," in the County at large, at the time of writing, is made out to be £158,427; the average "rate in the pound rent" (rack rent) 48. 5id.; and the "total expenditure, on account of the poor," £130,983.

If that table be nearly correct, it is a valuable document, in the topography and polity of the County; and proves Mr. Vancouver's indefatigable exertions, in forming instruments of that nature.

TITHES. This is one subject of five, which pass, in company, through the Reporter's Districts. The other com panions are Farms,-Occupiers,-Rent,-and Objects of Husbandry,-in Hampshire.

District 1*. P. 77." The rectorial tithe is too frequently taken in kind; but when agreement takes place between the occupier and person interested in the corn tithe, the commutation is usually from 4s. to 5s. in the pound on the rack-rent value of the occupution. The vicarial tithe is mostly compounded to the satisfaction of both parties."

District 2. P. 80." The great tithe through this district is but too frequently taken in kind; but when commuted, the great and small tithes together generally pay about 58. in the pound upon the full rent of the farm present value. The vicarial tithe was observed in too many cases to be drawn ; and when it is commuted upon the woodlands, it is generally paid by the owner or occupier, 28. in the pound on the amount of sales in the wood."

District 3. P. 82." The great and small tithes are com. monly commuted in this District for about 4s. 6d. in the pound, on the rack-rent value of the occupation."

District 4. P. 84. " From a number of instances collected on the Survey of this District, the commutation paid for the great and small tithes is found to amount to about 271 per cent. upon the present rack-rent, or value of the farms; but it is deeply to be regretted, that so many instances occurred, particularly on the western side of the county, of the tenth meal of milk being demanded, and paid with every other species of tithe, great and small, in kind."

District 5. P. 86. "Great and small, are generally com muted for 58. in the pound on the rack-rent value,”

District 6. P. 87. "This is by far too frequently taken in kind, but when commutation takes place, the great and small tithes are generally valued at about As. 6d. in the pound upon the rack-rents."

District

*See p. 305, aforegoing.

District 7. P. 89. "Tithes either belonging to the church, or in the hands of lay improprietors, are but too frequently drawn or taken in kind. When a commutation takes place for rectorial and vicarial tithes, it is seldom less than 68. 6d. and 78. in the pound, upon the full improved rent or present value."

PUBLIC EMBANKMENTS.-I insert, here, the subjoined remarks, on this subject (which fill the chapter "Embankments"); although they are neither so intelligent, nor intelligible, as the same writer's valuable paper, on the em bankment and drainage of the Waterlands of Cambridgeshire. See EASTERN DEPARTMENT.

P. 351. "If we except the embankments of Brading and Yaverland, in the Isle of Wight, some of which in their present improved state, exhibit specimen of the best feeding land in the county, the appropriation of almost all the other embankments on the coasts of the islands, as well as of the main land, has been that of saltings, for the manufacture of sea and medicinal salts.

"Many of these salt-works are now abandoned, bnt the brine and bitumen with which the former saltpans are saturated, preclude all expectation for a great length of time of these levels being convertible to agricultural purposes.→→→ The sea-weed or sea ore, of which most of the mounds or sea walls are formed, is found to last a prodigious length of time, and to sustain the constant lashing of the tidal waters with extraordinary firmness. There is no other point in the formation of these banks that can afford the humblest hint towards permanency or imitation, even to one who has never before seen works of such a nature; for in their construction against a long and heavy fetch or swell of the sea, it is utterly impossible for any form to be less efficacious, or worse contrived."

INLAND NAVIGATION.-Rivers.-P. 7." This river" (the Itchen)" was made navigable from Southampton to Winchester as early as the reign of William the Conqueror."

Canals.-P. 393. "Out of the three distinct lines of canal which originate in this county, there are two that terminate in the Southampton river. Besides the objects of improvement connected with these canals, the Kennet navigation, leading from Newbury to Reading, is thought to have produced considerable advantages to the northwestern side of this county.

"The Basingstoke Canal, however injurious to many estates through which it passes, and fraught as it may have been with disappointment to many of the first adventurers, is yet regarded as a valuable acquisition to the northern parts of the county..

"The

"The Redbridge and Andover Canal affords considerable advantage to the interior country, by bringing to it the foreign supplies of the most heavy and bulky nature it may require, and facilitating the surplus of its agricul tural produce to market; yet along the valley of the Teste many inconveniencies were witnessed by the penning of the water, to the injury of the low grounds through which the canal passes. From Redbridge there is a branch of this canal which connects immediately with Southampton; a collateral branch also proceeds up the valley between East Dean, Leskerley, and East Tytherley, which is navigable to Alderbury Common, and within two miles of Salisbury.

"The Winchester and Southampton Canal is perhaps one of the most ancient in the kingdom. The act for constructing this canal was obtained in the reign of Charles the First, but from the want of a suitable trade upon it, however advantageous to the city of Winchester and the surrounding country, it does not seem to have answered the expectations of the first adventurers; the same, indeed, may be stated of the Andover Canal, which is not supposed to have paid one shilling to the proprietors since its first establishment, now about nine years ago."

ROADS.-Parish Roads.-P. 391. "In general, good; some, the very best in the kingdom. To this general statement some exception must be made to parish roads, whether in the woodlands or the more open parts of the county. In the former situation their indifferent state may be more justly ascribed to their narrowness, and being overshaded with trees, than to any want of good and sufficient materials to make and repair them.

"In the chalk district, the quarters of the parish roads are found so very high, and the ruts so deep, as to render it no less difficult than dangerous for loaded carriages to turn out of them."

P. 392."Nothing can possibly exceed the goodness of the roads through the New Forest, and the southern parts of the county. It is no less true than strange, to say that the traveller may pass from Lymington to Christchurch, and thence to Salisbury, without a turnpike, and all the way upon parochial roads, which may vie for goodness with the best turnpikes in the kingdom. Neither are there turnpikes in the Isle of Wight."

Toll Roads.-P. 392. "The public or turnpike roads are, however, no where better than what may generally be met with in Hampshire: materials of an excellent quality are to be had in most situations."

Wheel Carriages.-While the Reporter is suggesting "Improvements”

"Improvements" (in a chapter appropriated to that purpose) he proposes the following regulation.P, 504. One thing seems indispensably required for the public accom modation, but this is only to be obtained by legislative authority; it is that of fixing upon one standard width for the track of all waggons, carts, and pleasurable carriages; and to ordain, that all wheel carriages, wheresoever made in, the island of Great Britain, whether designed for business or pleasure, after a certain time should be made and constructed agreeably thereto."

I

In by roads, already deeply rutted, such a regulation would be greatly advantageous; especially to gentlemen who travel, with sober pace, over the island at large, in their own carriages; no matter whether they move on four wheels or only two. But on wide barrel roads, such a restriction would be mischievous; inasmuch as it could not fail to form ruts,-which are the greatest evil of roads of that description. "Turnpike Roads" require a diversity, rather than a unity of span;-in order to prevent ruts, as much as may be, and thereby to render their entire surfaces equally travelable*.

MARKETS. P. 395. "Within the county, and at no great distance from its eastern and western borders, there are some of the best corn and cattle markets in the kingdom. These places generally afford opportunities for obtaining the best times price for all sort of agricultural produce, and at the same time exhibit assortments of manufactured goods, in all the variety of home or foreign taste, for do-y mestic consumption.".

The Reporter next proceeds to open his topographicopolitical chapter ;-which is thus entitled:p. 396." Po litical character of the principal towns in this district, seat, and circumstances of manufactures and commerce, fisheries, agricultural societies, &c. :"with such irrelevant materials] (chiefly) filling fifty pages!

Those miscellaneous matters, with many others, are treated of, districtwise-the several market towns of the t County being separately brought forward, according to their situations within the outlines of the Reporter's Districts. The following are among the favorite topics of attention, as The locality of the town under consideration.

1

Its

And the four-in-hand man,-the fast-driving Jehu, would have i an insuperable objection to the Reporter's plan. He delights in a narrow span, and a high seat, to give life to his vehicle-to give it action and lightness of motion-thereby to avoid, or easily to overcome, many obstructions, which a wide-span carriage, for the want of lateral motion, has to surmount.