HOVINGHAM. 201 



and 16th of August, for live cattle, and all kinds of 

 English grain, merchandise, &c. The market has 

 been discontinued a number of years. The annual 

 village festival, or Hovingham feast, occurs on the 

 first sunday after the 25th of August. There is 

 also an annual meeting of the Hovingham friendly 

 society, on the last thursday in May. Its affairs 

 are in a flourishing condition, there being a clear 

 surplus from the last year of ,121 ; the accumula 

 ted fund 1939 ; the members at present in con- 

 nection with the society, 200; with an annual 

 increase in their numbers.* 



* These highly praiseworthy institutions, which have 

 too little attracted the notice, or obtained the patronage 

 of the neighbouring gentry, have been attended with the 

 most beneficial effects in this parish ; tending as they 

 do, under salutary and WELL ENFORCED regulations, to 

 relieve the public burden, to promote and cherish the 

 too long forgotten spirit of English inde;>endance,---and 

 to introduce habits of industry and economy amongst the 

 lower orders of the community. The SUBSCRIPTIONS of 

 the neighbouring gentry are not so much wanting, as their 

 COUNTENANCE AND SUPPORT as honorary members ; - 

 which would raise the cofidence of the poorer classes, 

 and give them more correct notions on the subject. When 

 they observed the great and the good, the wealthy 

 and the wise, extending to them their fostering care, 

 and their powerful support, convinced as they wouldthen 

 be of the goodness of the institution, they would no 

 longer hesitate, but hasten to enrol themselves amongst 

 its members. And what sight more lovely, what object 

 more transporting, than to see man extending to his fel- 

 low man, the friendly hand of iuccour and support ; 

 to see the great and noble, more illustrious by their con- 

 descension, uniting with the poor and destitute the 

 opulent landlord, with his less able tenant,---the man. 

 of taste, the man of feeling, the man of learning, with 

 the poor unlettered and . ignorant,---meu of every sect, 

 of- denomination, or party, laying aside their mutual 

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