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In this Work, I shall describe the severalcurious Contrivances for draining of Lands,and forcing or raising of Water ; and also formeliorating and refining it, when we are pos-sefs’d of a sufficient Quantity of it. This I sup-pose may prove useful in many Places, and beof no small Advantage to the ingenious Au-thors and Makers of such Inventions, whoseNames I shall mention with Honour, as I haveOpportunity of knowing them.

The Correspondence 1 have already fix’d,and what I still expect from some of the first Classin this Way of Study, will sufficiently (withmy own Remarks) furnish out such a Work asI now design, and contribute to the general Im-;provement of Lands ; which will be like a newAcquisition of Territory to our Nation, andperhaps be one Means of restoring our Credit,and prove of Advantage to the Poor, by em-ploying them in profitable and healthful Ex-ercise.

Our Parliaments have already begun to en-close Commons ; and 1 doubt not but mob ofthe Commons in England might be brought intothe fame regular and happy State, provided thePoor (who have generally the Right of com-moning) have severally their Parcels of Landdetermin’d by B allotting, or any other Way,where Bribery or particular Interests cannot takeplace. The Forests likewise might turn to agood Account, were the Lands parcelsd out,and every Tenant oblig’d to plant certain Quan-tities of Timber forpublick Advantage*. This,in my Opinion, would be a lure Means of sup-plying the Nation with that valuable Commo-dity, which at present is so scarce, that its Priceis above one third Part more than what the

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