P. 426. "It is impossible not to feel great respect, in contemplating the energy of an individual of the highest rank and fortune, animated with such ideas, and expending his income in so meritorious a manner, forming navigations, rewarding industry in the lower classes, improving the breeds of live-stock by bounties, encouraging all useful and mechanical artisans; setting on foot multiplied experiments to ascertain the comparative merit of different agricultural implements; introducing improvements, by extending the knowledge of new plants, animals, or implements, all of them in so many and various shapes contributing their assistance to national prosperity. The thought of one man having been instrumental in the improvement of his country, and still exerting himself in the same career, must be a constant fund of gratification to every benevolent mind; and that long may he live to enjoy the fruits of his labour in the service of his country, is the wish of every man in the county."

ROADS.-P. 416. "The turnpike roads in Sussex are generally well enough executed: the materials are excellent: whinstone; the Kentish rag, broken into moderate sized pieces. Where this is not found, or not used, the roads are not so good; though turnpikes are numerous and tolls high in some places in the east they are narrow and sandy. From Chichester, Arundel, Steyning, Brighton, Bourne, the roads to the metropolis, and the great cross road near the coast, which connects them together, are very good."

P. 418. "There is such an instance of the benefit of a turnpike-road at Horsham, as is very rarely to be met with: the present road to London was made in 1756; before that time it was so execrably bad, that whoever went on wheels, were forced to go round by Canterbury," (!*)" which is one of the most extraordinary circumstances that the history of non-communication in this kingdom can furnish. The making the road was opposed-for what measure of common sense could ever be started that would not be opposed! It was no sooner completed than rents rose from 7s. to 11s. per acre: nor is there a gentleman in the country who does not acknowledge and date the prosperity of the country to this road; and the people who were the greatest opposers of it, are now so convinced, that there is a general spirit of mending their cross-roads by rates."

MARKETS.-Lewes Sheep Fair.-P. 431. " This fair is annually held upon the second day of October; and it is from hence that the South Down flocks are dispersed over various

* For Canterbury read Caithness,

quarters

quarters of England, as the buyers come from a great distance to attend Lewes upon this day, where large droves are bought up by commission. From 20 to 30,000 sheep are generally collected upon this occasion.

"Previous to this fair, there is one at Selmiston (September 19) upon a much smaller scale. But the principal flocks are drafted and sold previous to either of these fairs, so that a buyer who comes from another county, and examines the sheep upon the day of the fair, is deprived of seeing the finest part of this celebrated stock."

Lewes Wool Fair.-P. 430. "Lewes Wool Fair, July 26. This fair was first established in 1786, and the county is indebted to the happy thought which suggested to Lord Sheffield the establishment of such an excellent plan. Before this era, the mode of buying and selling wool was entirely left to chance and uncertainty; and by nobody knowing the fair price, every one sold for what he could get, which necessarily left the seller at the mercy of the stapler; but his Lordship, by instituting this fair, collected the flock-masters together, and a proper price has ever since been obtained."

SOCIETIES.-At Lewes.-P. 466. "In 1772 a Society was proposed and established at Lewes, for the Encouragement of Agriculture, Manufactures, and Industry, by John Baker Holroyd, Esq. now Lord Sheffield, and Premiums were offered; but on the breaking out of the war in 1778, it was dropped."

Petworth Meetings.-P. 466. "A fair has been yearly held upon the 20th of November at this place, but was not remarkable till the Earl of Egremont, with a view of promoting the improvement of cattle, by animating the neighbouring breeders to exertions before unheard of, excited a rivalship among them by offering premiums.

"In 1795, Lord Egremont offered a premium of a silver cup to the finest bull that was shown at the fair.

"In consequence of this encouragement nine bulls appeared, and the prize was adjudged to Mr. Thomas Coppard, of Woodmancote.

"This first experiment was so very satisfactory to the farmers, that they agreed amongst themselves to show their stock of bulls and heifers at the next Storrington fair (December 5)."

P. 467. "The first year of the show of cattle turned out so much to the satisfaction of Lord Egremont, that in the following year his Lordship offered the following premi

ums.

"A show of three and four-year old bulls, and a show of three-year old heifers which have bad a calf. нь

"A

"A silver cup will be given to the proprietor of the best bull; and ten pounds to the proprietor of the second best bull.

"Fifteen guineas will be given to the proprietor of the best heifer; and five guineas to the proprietor of the next

best heifer."

P. 468.1797. This year there was a great meeting at Petworth; and in order the more to stimulate the farmers to exertions of such importance to their own welfare, as well as to the public good, and to give a larger range to the sphere of their ideas by that collision of opinion which takes place in large companies composed of men of all ranks, he has on these occasions filled his capacious mansion with the most celebrated breeders, graziers, and farmers, from various parts of the kingdom.

"Lord Egremont's silver cup, which was this year of the value of fifty guineas, was adjudged to Mr. Harrington; and the sweepstakes for the best heifer was given to Mr. Marchant."

Lewes Meeting." In the year 1797, the Earl of Egremont set on foot a Society at Lewes, for the improvement of cattle and sheep; rewarding industry among the labouring poor, and distributing prizes to the best ploughmen: and the effect has been such, that although the Society has been established only six years,* it has in that short space very materially tended to improve the objects for which it was instituted, and it promises still greater success, by the support it is continually receiving from every quarter of the county."

SUBJECT THE THIRD.

RURAL ECONOMY.

ESTATES.

TENANTED ESTATES.

ISTATES.-P. 17. " In so large, populous, and cultivated a county, estates must necessarily vary: the largest does not exceed 7500l. a year."

SODBURNING.-P. 197: "This is one of the greatest improvements which land is susceptible of receiving." (!) IRRIGATION.

From this expression, it appears that the volume was not published, until 1803, or perhaps afterward! What a mischievous trick to suppress the legitimate title page.

IRRIGATION.-P. 222. "On the western side of Sussex, that admirable practice of watering their meadows in a regular manner, is very well understood, and successfully practised. The course of the Lavant river, from its springhead to Chichester, waters the finest and most productive meadows in the county."-The Lavant is the only calcareous stream, of size, in the county.

TENANCY.-P. 43. "The term of leases every where varies. They are granted for seven, fourteen, and twenty-one years. It sometimes happens that none are allowed, and the tenant depends upon the good faith and honour of his landlord."

RENT. Of Chalk Hill Lands.-P. 28. "The native down, or sheep-walk, is rented at various prices-from 1s. to 8s. 6d. A very large tract of the hills between Newhaven and Shoreham, averages at 5s. 9d. and the arable at 11s.; very rich at 20s. Between Lewes and East Bourne, the Down is 2s. 6d. ; arable, 10s. 6d. Between East Bourne and Shoreham, 4s. id. On the light gravelly soils, the rent is 12s. 6d. Where the quality is better,”—the rents are from 16s. to 24s.

an acre.

Seacoast District.-P. 28. "In the maritime district, rents rise from 20s. to 30s.”

Rent of Grass Lands.-P. 29. "Grass in the Weald averages at 13 or 14s. per acre, but it is seldom lett by itself."

Of Water Meadows.-P. 29. " On the western side of the county, where the admirable practice of irrigating is understood and practised, meadow rents as high as 40s. per acre; in East Lavant, at 25s.; in West Bourne, 35s.; in West Hampnet, meadow, which before watering rented at 5s. per acre, is now lett at 40s. and has been valued as high as 60s.

"The river Lavant, from the spring-head at East Dean to Chichester, irrigates between four and five hundred acres."

Of Marshlands.-P. 29. "A large tract of marsh-land adjoining the coast, varies from 20s. to 40s. per acre. Some small parcels rise as high as 50s. and even 60s. Pevenseylevel averages at 30s.; Winchelsea, 25s.; Brede, 355.; Pett, 25s.; Lewes and Lawton, the same; Beeding, 30s.; Arundel rape, 25s."

General Statement of Rent.-P. 29, "I shall conclude this account of the rent of land by the following statement of the rent, produce, and division of the land.

“The remainder is composed of water, roads, buildings, &c.; so that the general rent is 492,500l. or 10s. per acre, including all sorts of land; and the produce 1,559,7752.

WOODLANDS.

EXTENT..

XTENT.-P. 9. “So predominant is the timber and wood of one sort or another in the Weald, that when viewed from the South Downs, or any eminence in the neighbourhood, it presents to the eye hardly any other prospect but a mass of wood. This is to be ascribed to the great extent and quantity of wood; preserved by a custom of a nature so extraordinary, that it is not a little surprising no steps have been taken to put an end to it.

"When this country was first improved by clearing, it was a common practice to leave a shaw of wood several yards in width, to encompass each distinct enclosure, as a nursery for the timber, &c. The size of these enclosures being small, must of course contribute to render the general aspect of it woody. Anterior to the Conquest, the Weald was a continued forest, extending from the borders of Kent to the confines of Hampshire, across the whole county of Sussex; and the names of a variety of parishes situated in this line, and evidently derived from Saxon original, attest this fact to the present day. In truth, the forest now remaining occupies a considerable portion of Sussex."

COMPARATIVE VALUE of Woodland, with that of Arable Land-On this subject much is written; but, through a want of sufficiently matured knowledge, concerning those rival sisters, I find nothing made out that would add to the value of this register; even when the aid of calculation is called in, to strengthen the force of argument. For a specimen of similar calculations, on the value of woodland producé, see EASTERN DEPARTMENT,-Secretary's Lincolnshire.

On the ESTABLISHED MANAGEMENT of Woodlands,-for