Sir H. S. MeTjsey TJiompson^ Bart 539 



and devoted much time, and his surplus income, in extending 

 the use of machinery, and in otherwise improving agriculture : 

 and in promoting education, as well upon his own estate as in 

 the management of the diocesan training colleges of York and 

 Ripon — and this at a time when those educational institutions 

 had few supportei's and scanty means. Afterwards Middle-class 

 education interested him ; and during many busy years he found 

 time on Sundays to visit his farm to teach the farm-lads. We 

 may not do more than refer to his happy marriage in 1843, and 

 to the numerous and promising family by which he was sub- 

 sequently blessed. Charity, melting charity, claimed from his 

 busy life many a well-spent hour ; from 1845, for 20 years he 

 acted as Chairman of the House Committee of that admirable 

 institution, the York County Hospital ; and during his chair- 

 manship the new hospital was built. The railway directorship, 

 as we have seen, commenced in 1849 ; he succeeded at his 

 father's death to the family estates in 1853 ; and six years after- 

 Avards Parliamentary business for a time somewhat interrupted 

 home duties. Early in life an acting Justice of the North and 

 East Riding of Yorkshire ; in 18G5 he served the office of High 

 Sheriff of that great county ; and, as we know, in 1867 he was 

 President of the Royal Agricultural Society. We fancy we gather 

 in Mr. Thompson's writings much that is autobiographical * — he 

 sketches a man so hungering for knowledge, that he is never 

 satisfied until he could ascertain all the causes of failure. " The 

 management of an imaginary farm " savours greatly of his own ex- 

 perience. Mr. Robson, hale and hearty, his bailifi' from the very 

 first, is still at Kirby to speak much of his late master and little of 

 himself; he can tell of the exceeding minuteness that regarded 

 every minute detail of the estate, of the household, and of the 

 farm — no turnip sown, no sheep bought, without his master's 

 knowledge. As a landlord Mr. Thompson is autobiographical 

 when he says, " there exist personal ties which, if rudely severed, 

 would be most inadequately replaced by additional rent." Safe 

 tenants may crop as they please — simplify agreements, and 

 regard good stocking and thorough manuring. Give plenty of 

 notice ; so combine freedom for the incoming with justice to the 

 outgoing tenant. Routine, he adds, cannot be broken through 

 without a pang, which never, however, survives a favourable 

 balance-sheet. 



In the somewhat flat country of the vale of Ouse, Kirby 

 Hall is pleasantly situated, exactly in the centre of a circle of 

 park and other lands, which have been cultivated and improved 

 by Mr. Thompson. The garden front commands a distant view 



* ' Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society,' vol. xxx. p. 44. 



