Labouring Classes, Public Cemeteries. 527 



to them to a profitable size : both these objects Mr. Greene 

 Bradley has already nearly effected. 



Labourer^ Cottages, in which there was very little improve- 

 ment from London to Warwick, assumed a somewhat more 

 comfortable aspect about Birmingham, and thence to Man- 

 chester. There are still, however, a great many of the in- 

 ferior cottao;es of 1805 between Ormskirk and the lakes. 

 There, in the villages at least, they are more picturesque in 

 appearance, and some of the chimney tops would form as fine 

 studies for a cottage architect, as the rocks, ground, natural 

 wood, and waters do for a young landscape-gardener. Be- 

 tween Penrith and Dumfries, the cottages are more im- 

 proved than they have been on any part of our journey. 

 We are informed that these cottages have been chiefly built 

 by labourers and working tradesmen, for their own occupa- 

 tion. They are of squared stone, with facings to the doors 

 and windows ; the floor is raised two or three steps ; they 

 contain two rooms and a large light closet, with a garret for 

 lumber, and a lean-to kitchen for washing, &c. *^The garden 

 is behind, and a peat stack (peat being the usual fuel) is 

 generally placed against the end of the house. The roof is 

 covered with slates ; and the windows are generally composed 

 of two sashes, one of which, at least, is hung. 



The Condition of the Labouring Classes may be considered 

 perhaps as somewhat better north of Liverpool, than be- 

 tween London and Banbury ; partly from their being of a more 

 frugal disposition and more intelligent, and partly also from 

 their resources, in the manufactures of Preston and Carlisle, 

 and their employment as sailors at the seaports. This dis- 

 trict seems less a sporting country than those farther south 

 or farther north ; and there are, in consequence, fewer per- 

 sons demoralised by imprisonment for poaching. Nothing 

 in the whole course of our journey has filled us with more 

 profound grief and indignation, than the sight of so many 

 young persons confined in the jails for poaching, commencing 

 with the jail of Aylesbury. We wish the supporters of the 

 game laws could but see, as we have done, the evil they 

 occasion. The time will come, however, and that we trust 

 speedily, when the past existence of such laws will be viewed 

 with astonishment and horror. 



Large Public Cemeteries, unconnected with churches, have 

 been formed at Manchester and Liverpool, and ought to be 

 formed on some general system by every town and village 

 throughout the country. That at Manchester and one of 

 those at Liverpool are the property of companies ; but the 

 largest one at Liverpool has been formed by the town cor- 



