CHAPTER III.

Life of the Gentry in the Country-Effect of the Annual Visit

of the Aristocracy to Town-Pleasure of Re-assembling at

their Country Houses-Impressions of our Country Houses

and Country Life on Foreigners-The German Prince's

description of the Dairy at Woburn Abbey-Willis's descrip-

tion of the Mode of Life at Gordon Castle-The peculiar

Charms of this kind of life.

CHAPTER IV.

Pager

Routine of Country Sports—Hunting, Shooting, Coursing, pur-

sued in a different style to that of our Ancestors-Each its

own Season, Apparatus, and Appointments-English Sports-

men communicate their Knowledge through the Press-The

Extinction of Falconry-The perfection of Fox-hunting in

this Country-Manner in which some Old Sportsmen amuse

themselves during the Summer-Favour into which Angling

has risen of late years-Our Tourist-Anglers- Grouse-

Shooting: its exciting Nature-Symptoms of the approach

of the 12th of August in England, the same as exhibited in

Scotland-Sportsmen on their way to the Highlands by the

Packet-The contrast between them and Pedestrianizing

Students-Tom Oakleigh's description of the commence-

ment of Grouse-Shooting on the Moors-Other features of

it both there and in Scotland-Return for Partridge Shoot-

ing-A Word with the Too-Sensitive.

CHAPTER V.

Scientific Farming: its State, Implements, and Admirers, An-
cient and Modern-Agricultural Pursuits delighted in by
the greatest Men of all Ages-Attachment of the Roman
Nobility to them-Cicero's enthusiastic Encomiums on
Country Affairs-Farming now practised as a Science-
Vast Improvements during the last Century-Multiplicity
of its Modern Implements-Benefits derived from Chemistry
and Mechanics-Progressive Improvements in Tillage, Breed
of Cattle, Wool, Machinery, etc. by Tull, Menzies, Bake-
well, Lord Somerville, Coke, Duke of Bedford, the Cul-
leys, etc.-By Periodicals and Associations-Men to whom
Agricultural Interests are peculiarly Indebted - Characters
of the Duke of Buccleugh and Lord Somerville, by Sir
Walter Scott-Anecdote of the Duke of Portland.

CHAPTER VI.

Planting its Pleasures-Vast Effect of the Writings of Evelyn
in England, and Dr. Johnson in Scotland-Evidences of
the growth of the Planting Spirit in all parts of the King-
dom Wordsworth's Complaint of the Larch in the Lake
Country-Larch Plantations of the Duke of Athol-His

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calculated Profits--Monteith of Stirling's Calculations of

the Profits of 100 Acres of Oak Planting in seventy years—

Anecdote of an extensive Planter.

CHAPTER VII.

Gardens-Pleasures of them-Retrospective View of English

Gardens-Influence of our Imaginative Writers on their

Character-Writers before the Reign of Elizabeth-The

Roman Style of Gardens under the name of Italian, French

and Dutch Gardens, prevalent till the 18th Century, over-

turned by the Writings of Addison, Pope, and Walpole, and

by the Works of Bridgman, Kent, and Brown-Gardens of

Hampton Court, Nonsuch, Theobalds, etc., as described by

Hentzner in 1598-The Old Style of Gardens appropriate

to the Old Houses and the Character of the Times-Ad-

vantages of the Prevalence of different Tastes at different

Periods pointed out-Laborious Lives and Travels of our

earlier Gardeners and Botanists-Our Old Gardens interest-

ing objects in different parts of the Kingdom-Their Classi-

cal Antiquity pleaded in their favour.

CHAPTER VIII.

Page

Country Excitements-Diminution of the Enjoyment of Country

Life by Petty Rivalries and Jealousies; and by the Neglect

of Walking-Racing a great cause of Excitement to the

Gentry in the Country-The Present State of the Turf, as

shewn by Nimrod-Variety afforded by Race and Country

Balls, Musical Festivals, etc.- Confirmation-Parade of

Assize Time-The Sheriff's Pageant.

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93

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PART II.

LIFE OF THE AGRICULTURAL POPULATION.

CHAPTER I.

The English Farmer: his Character, and Mode of Life-Picture
of the approach to a Market Town on a Market Day-
Farmers going in and coming out-Contrast between the
space occupied by the Concerns of the Farmer and the City
Trader-Enviable Aspect of the Farmer's Abode-His
Life and Soul in his Profession-His Conversation- A great
Charm in Nature working with him-Delight which Poets
and Great Men have found in Farming-The Intellectual
grade of the Farmer-Pressing Hospitalities of Farmers and

their Wives-A Sketch of one Day's Feasting at a Farm-

House-Dinner, and its chaos of Good Things-Tea, and

the arrival of Fresh Guests-Who they are-'
-Traits of

Character both in Men and Women of this Class-The

Dance, and the Departure.

CHAPTER II.

Page

121

The English Farmer as operated upon by Modern Circumstances

-Complaint of Cobbett that the Farmer is spoiled by modern

Refinement-In what degree this is true-Men of all

Ranks to be found amongst Farmers-The Old Farmer in

retired parts of England as Rustic as ever-Effects of Poli-

tical Economy-Evils of the Large Farm System-The

Farmer in a Healthy State of the Country-Drawbacks

on the Pleasantness of Farm Houses-The Remedy easy-

Advantages and Disadvantages of Large Farms stated-

Instance of the Success of a Small Farmer, and its obvious

Causes-Just equilibrium of Interests, and an open field for 15

Enterprise necessary to National Prosperity.

CHAPTER III.

Farm Servants, and their mode of Life-A Peak-of-Derbyshire-

man's Address to his Guest-The Plodding Farmer and his

Wife-The Journal of a Farmer's Day, by Mr. Robinson of

Cambridge-Mode in which Farm-Servants, both Men and

Women, are brought up-Ordinary course of the Farmer-

Man's Life-The same in Harvest-Sketch of him as pre-

paring for Plough, or for the Team-Custom of going out

with the wagon to deliver Corn, etc.--Anecdote of a "States-

man's" Wife in Cumberland.

CHAPTER IV.

The Bondage System of the North of England-Manner in

which it strikes a Stranger from the South-Bands of Women

working in the Fields-Mode of Maintaining the Hinds-

Description of their Cottages-Cottage of the Herd of

Middleton-Cobbett's surprise on discovering the Bondage

System-His view of its Effects on the Population and Pro-

ductiveness of the Country-Curious Coach Scene near

Morpeth-Cobbett's Address to the Chopsticks of the South

on the State of the Bondage District-Bondage Farms and

Farm-yards-Lodgings of the Hinds-Their allowance of

Corn and Pease-The Schoolmaster paid in Meal-Preca-

rious Nature of the Tenure of their Houses-Enormous

Rent of the Land-The Farm-yards, Cornfactories-Scan-

tiness of the Population compared with the Agricultural

Districts of the South-Hardships of the System on the

Hinds-A Certificate required from the last Master-The

same custom in the Collieries of the Midland Counties-

Concluding Remarks.

138

147

149

165

CHAPTER V.

The Terrors of a Solitary House-Sense of Insecurity which a

Townsman feels in a Solitary House at Night-Wide dif-

ference in our feeling of such a place by Day and by Night

-Nervous Fancies excited by them on Stormy Nights-

Decrease of Burglaries and Highway Robberies through

Modern Improvements-Noble Defence of his House by

Colonel Purcell-Attack of the House of a Welsh Gentle-

man, Mr. Powell, and his Murder - Fact related by a

Minister of the Society of Friends-Sturdy Rogues-Fright

of an Old Gentleman with one-Cowardice inspired by

living in a Solitary House - Superstitions generated by

such Places-Concluding Remarks

CHAPTER VI.

Midsummer in the Fields-The Spiritual effect of Green Fields

at Midsummer-True Wisdom of Izaak Walton-Delicious

Haunts of the Angler at this Season- Profound repose of

Trees-Rich Mosaic of Fields-Sound of Birds at this

Season - Mowers at work-Delights of Brook-sides, with

their Plants and Insects-Curious Metamorphosis of Midges

-Beauty of Dragon-flies-Summer Birds-Feelings con-

nected with this fleeting Season

Page

185

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PART III.

PICTURESQUE AND MORAL FEATURES OF THE COUNTRY.

CHAPTER I.

-

Gipsies: their History and Present State-Gipsies part and
parcel of the English Landscape An essential, Portion of
our Poetry and Literature-Uses made of them by many
kinds of Writers-Gipsy Adventure of Sir Roger de Cover-
ley-Gipsy Sketches by Wordsworth, Cowper, Crabbe, and
others- Inquiries after their Origin-The notion of the
Ettrick Shepherd of it-Arab-like Character of Gipsies-
Researches of Grellman and Buttner into the Gipsy Origin
-Account of their Numbers, Treatment, and Habits in all
Nations-Their Language-Various Names by which they
are and have been known - M. Hasse's Theory of their
Antiquity-Pointed out by Herodotus and Strabo-Causes
of their more numerous appearance in Western Europe
about the Year 1400-Their first entry into France in
1427, as described by Pasquin-Banished by Proclamation
-The same policy pursued in other Countries-Cruelties
practised on them in Spain-Order to drive them from

-

Page

France with Fire and Sword-Attempt to Expel them from
Sweden, Denmark, Italy, and England-Entry respecting
them in the Parish Records of Uttoxeter-The Inquiries of
Mr. Hoyland into their History and Condition-His Visits
to their Haunts at Norwood and London-Their Annual
Progresses from London through various Counties —Mr.
Hoyland's Researches in Scotland-The Border-Country
their chief Resort-Letter of Sir Walter Scott respecting
them-Remarkable Scene with them at Riding the Marches
near Yetholm-Sir Walter Scott's Recognition of one of
them at Kelso Fair-The Family of the Faas-Old Will
Faa, the Gipsy King's Journey to see the Laird on his
Death-bed-Meg Merrilies one of their Clan-The Author's
Visit to Yetholm - The Gipsy Houses: the Feud between
them and the Shepherds-Old Will Faa, the present King
-The Importance given him by Sir Walter Scott's Writings
-His Smuggling and Fighting-His Portrait by Sir Martin
Archer Shee-General Review of their Numbers and Con-
dition in these Kingdoms-Camp near Nottingham, and
Death of the Gipsy King - Peculiarities of the whole
Race Their estimated Numbers in Europe-Children sent
to School in London Gipsy Wife reading her Bible to
her Children Feelings naturally presented by the sight
of a Gang-Curious accidental Meeting of the Author with
two Ladies of Rank acting the Gipsies in Surrey

-

-

CHAPTER II.

Nooks of the World, or a Peep into the Back Settlements of

England-Beauty and Repose of many such Places to the

eye—Their_Intellectual slumber-Wordsworth's Descrip-

tion of a Farmer-lad-The Books generally to be found

in primitive Cottages-Worst state of Morals in Districts

partly Agricultural and partly Manufacturing - Exertions

of the Methodists-The Effect of Political Pressure on the

Working Class-Necessity of sound Education-The Effect

of it in Scotland-Rural Book Societies recommended-

An Example of the effect of Reading on a Working Man-

Sordid Character of the People of some Property in obscure

Hamlets-A Physician living in a Dove Cot-Sketch of a

Country Proprietor and his Family-The Farmer Brothers

-The Land Agent's account of a curious Dinner Scene at

the Squire's-A worthy Example of the Old School of

Country Gentlemen Education the great need of the

Rural Districts.

-

CHAPTER III.

219

- 251

Nooks of the World: Part II.-Life in the Dales of Lancashire
and Yorkshire -- Wide Contrast between the Aspect and
Condition of the Agricultural and Manufacturing Districts-
Poverty and Rudeness of some Parts of Lancashire-Half-
wild Children in the Lancashire Hills-Old Factory System
-Wild Country between Lancashire and the Yorkshire