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early part of the eighteenth century. But before the 

 rising of the '45, Francis Cholroeley had given hostages 

 to fortune, and was busily engaged in 1 mi Ming his house 

 and reclaiming the moor. The Scottish invasion passed 

 through Lancashire, to the time-honoured accompani- 

 ment of the banging of warming-pans ; and beyond Lord 

 Falconberg's subscriptions towards the defence of the 

 country printed on p. 603, and the evidence that a large 

 sum of money was dispatched to London for security, 

 there is no sign in any of these papers that the 

 country was in any other condition than that of profound 

 peace. In 1779, however, the loyalty of the family was 

 unimpeachable, and 100 was subscribed towards the 

 volunteer movement of the time. 



The energies of the Cholmeleys, thus cut off from 

 public affairs, were directed towards agriculture. Francis 

 Cholmeley went into partnership with some one in the 

 conduct of a farm for a few years, but the obvious 

 pleasure with which he records certain advantageous 

 sales of stock leads one to suppose that the venture was 

 not very successful Be that as it may, the evidence 

 of the accounts proves that the pursuit of agriculture 

 was carried out with energy and method, and this con- 

 clusion is supported by independent testimony. Arthur 

 Young, on his northern tour, naturally travelled at once 

 to Newton, where lived Mr. Comber, so well known to 

 readers of the Museum Rusticum, and he was unable to 

 visit the places off the route. But in a note, on p. 457, 

 to the second volume of the Northern Tour he writes : 



' If my time had not obliged me to leave Newton so soon, Mr. Comber 

 would hare carried me to see three Great Improvers who lie in a line 

 from South to North to the West of East Newton. These are Francis 

 Ckolmondley of Brandsby Uatt, Esq.; Charles Lord Fairfax of Gilling 

 Castle, and Thomas Earl of Falconberg at Newburg-Hall The following 



