A Farmers Notebook 147 



zest ; they throw some light upon the Payment of 

 Labour Question in that eighteenth century which, 

 according to Mr. Kebbel, was the golden age of 

 agriculture : ' a broad rich plain lying between two 

 volcanic ranges ; a happy valley rich in corn, and wine, 

 and oil.' Put into figures this blessedness amounted 

 (so far as Hodge was concerned) to eightpence or 

 ninepence a day. ' John Gelt, his bill for work ' came 

 to 2. $s. 6d. for five weeks ; but this (Ss. Sd. a week) 

 appears to have been the highest wages Henery ever 

 paid. Five and threepence for 7 days, three and six- 

 pence for 6 days, two and tenpence for 3 days, and 

 eightpence for a single day such entries occur again 

 and again at intervals within the twenty-eight recorded 

 years. Nor was piecework better paid. * John lea, 

 his bill for mowing 1 1 ackers and a halve' was 0. 

 ijs, $d., but he had 2s. 6d. for ' one acker in the marsh.' 

 John had evidently to sweat for his pound. Plowing, 

 ' thrishing,' and mending of all sort were paid at eight- 

 pence a day. It would be a mistake to think that 

 the money thus earned went very far. Here is what 

 seems to have been the average rent for a cottage. 

 It is a receipt that Henery, who committed himself to 

 few documents, carefully copied into his note-book : 

 ' September 3, 1739, reseved of Jonathan lea 2. os. od. 

 to pound being one years rent dew at Micholmus last 

 past i sai reseved by me Henery Kemble 2. os. od.' 

 Ninepence a week is not much for a house ; but 

 in point of fact it would now be held quite enough 



