26 LETTER CoNcERNING 
STAFFORDSHIRE FIRE-PLACE. 
ST DE MLE WwW. FRONT VIEW. 
= fl 
EIT UC ALT NL LA 
—=——-= sm 
‘WUDTUTCTLO 
Much more of the profperity of a winter country de- 
pends on the plenty and cheapnefs of fuel, than is gene- 
rally imagined. In travelling I have obferved, that in 
thofe parts where the inhabitants can have neither wood 
nor coal nor turff but at exceflive prices, the working peo- 
ple live in miferable hovels, are ragged, and have nothing 
comfortable about them.. But where fuel is cheap, (or 
where they have the art of managing it to advantage) they 
are well furnifhed with neceflaries, and have decent habi- 
tations. "The obvious reafon is, that the working: hours 
of fuch. people are the profitable hours, and they who can-. 
not afford fufficient fuel have fewer fuch hours in, the 
twenty four, than thofe who have it cheap and plenty : 
For much of the domeftic: work of poor women, fuch as. 
{pinning,. 
