Wednesday, May 27, 1812.

A Petition of the president and members of the Board of Agriculture, was presented and read; setting forth,

"That, since the establishment of the Board of Agriculture, the petitioners have felt it their duty, at various times, to press upon the attention of parliament the expediency and necessity of a general law to facilitate the inclosure of waste lands, and for the more effectual cultivation of lands lying in a state of common field; and that a Bill for the above important purposes passed through the House in the year 1797, but did not receive the sanction of the other House of Parliament; and that an idea seemed to be entertained at the time, that, from the number of private and special Acts of Inclosure, a public and general law was unnecessary; but, notwithstanding the improvements which have thereby taken place, many millions of acres in the kingdom still require the advantages of partition and inclosure; and that, with such a resource at our command, it appears to be more expedient and politic to depend on our own cultivation and produce, than on foreign supplies for our subsistence; and that the Board of Agriculture are impressed with a deep conviction, that, owing to the rapidly increasing population of the United Kingdom, the greatest exertions are required to improve the agricultural system of the country, and that no object more imperiously demands the attention of the legislature, or will more amply repay the cares of an enlightened government; and praying, that the House will take the premises into their early consideration, and adopt such measures as the circumstances of the case may require."

Ordered to lie upon the table.