Folios 69-70. Anonymous letter, closely written, from 'a loving subject near Dorchester...

Folios 69-70. Anonymous letter, closely written, from 'a loving subject near Dorchester [Dorset] addressed to the King that in light of the newspaper reports of the latter's desire to see the price of provisions lowered, the writer wishes to lay before him 'evil' of forestalling and engrossing but the root of it being among the rich he is 'afraid Parliament will not look into the matter because many of the members of both houses are the cause of the present complaints among the people'. As examples of engrossing in the neighbourhood of Dorchester, the writer cites the enclosure of manors of Came, Whitcomb, Muncton [?Monkton Wyld] and Bockhampton. The writer says that it is the general opinion of most thinking men that the kingdom has become greatly depopulated, some saying by a fourth within the preceding hundred years. He says the King must put a stop to enclosures 'or oblige the lord of the manor to keep up the ancient custom of it and not suffer him to buy his tenant's interest; to have all the house pulled down, and the whole parish turned into a farm: this is a fashionable practice, and by none more than Jno [John] Damer, Esquire, the owner of Came, and his brother Lord Milton'.