THE ENGLISH LAND SYSTEM 71 



breaks, the last of which were the " Swing Riots " of 

 1830-1.' 



But earnest and far-seeing men among all classes, 

 even among landowners themselves, were found, as 

 they were found in previous centuries, who protested 

 against the policy that was being pursued. Philan- 

 thropic societies were formed to counteract the evil. 

 Clergymen pointed out the ruin that was being 

 wrought in their several parishes. But it was all in 

 vain. The landed interest was all-powerful in Parlia- 

 ment, and the ruinous system was continued with 

 unabated vicjour. 



The Rev. D. Davies, Rector of Barkham, writes in 



1795 :— 



" Cottages have been progressively deprived of the 

 litde land formerly let with them, and also their rights 

 of commonage have been swallowed up in large farms 

 and by enclosures. Thus an amazing number of 

 people have been reduced from a comfortable state 

 of partial independence to a precarious state as mere 

 hirelings, who when out of work immediately come 

 upon the parish." 



In 1 83 1 a society was formed called the " Labourer's 

 Friend Society," with the object of giving back to the 

 peasants, by voluntary agencies, portions of the land 

 of which they had been deprived. It was an influen- 

 tial society, with the king and queen as patrons. Its 

 aims and methods seem to have been similar to those 



1 These were not riots but lawless acts — rick-burnings, etc., done in 

 different parts of the country in the name of a fabulous person, a " Captain 

 Swing." Many of the participators were taken, some of them were hanged, 

 and others transported. Particulars of these so-called " riots " can be 

 found in Alex. Somerville's " Whistler at the Tlough." 



