1 82 The Journal of a Naturalist, 



the inclemencies of winter, and a snug fireside at his command 

 (and these comforts, at least, we must suppose him to enjoy) ; 

 — how is it that a man so circumstanced should be so utterly 

 insensible to the misery of the condition he describes, that he 

 should think it much that " a man or a healthy woman" may, 

 by continued labour throughout a winter's day, earn one shil- 

 ling P — that a family of four, if the children go on steadili/, 

 may, by their united labours, obtain from 165. to 185. in a 

 week, to provide them all with lodging, firing, food, and 

 clothing ? — and this, too, only if the weather be favourable. 

 If there be bad weather (and how much bad weather usually 

 occurs in the winter season we need not say), " they can work 

 at intervals, and various broken hours, and obtain something ! " 

 They have actually a chance of avoiding utter starvation, even 

 in bad weather ! — if they cannot get two meals in a day, they 

 may possibly get one ; and if bread be too dear, they may yet 

 procure a potato ! — that is, indeed, provided they be all 

 healthy. Let us suppose this poor family, by the industry of 

 the parents, and the continued labour of the children, to earn 

 the enormous sum of 185. in the week: deduct two for rent, and 

 one for firing, and 155. will remain to clothe and to feed them, 

 and to supply such occasional expenses as must sometimes 

 occur ; as the purchase of any articles of furniture, tools, &c., 

 Ss. 9d. for each individual. Were the author of this volume, 

 but for one week, to make the experiment of living within 

 such an income, I am persuaded he would read the passage in 

 question witli very different feelings and opinions of the " well- 

 doing " of the villagers of that " favoured district." Much 

 may be done with sobriety, industry, and hope, it is true ; and 

 1 85. or even 1 6s. a week is more than many poor families sub- 

 sist upon ; but let us not affect to look with admiration upon 

 the happy condition of a poor family who can " obtain some- 

 thing " by hard labour, in broken hours, even in bad winter 

 weather ! 



This gentleman's ideas of good living, when speaking of the 

 peasantry, may be seen in other passages of the work. Po- 

 tatoes, he tells us, form their chief food. " Every labourer," 

 continues he, " rents of the farmer some portion of his land, 

 to the amount of a rood or more, for this culture ; the pro- 

 fits of which enable him frequently to build a cottage, and, 

 with the aid of a little hread^ furnishes a regular, plentiful, and 

 nutritious food for himself his mfe, and his children, within, 

 and his pig^ without doors; and they all grow fat and healthy 

 upon this diet." The population of England, our author 

 observes, is fast increasing, in consequence of the cultivation 

 of this vegetable ; and that it is the only earthly production of 



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