London to John O Groat's. 281 



CHAPTEE XIY. 



NOTTINGHAM AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS NEWSTEAD ABBEY MANSFIELD 



TALK IN A BLACKSMITH'S SHOP CHESTERFIELD, CHATSWORTH 

 AND HADDON HALL ARISTOCRATIC CIVILIZATION, PRESENT AND 



PAST. 



"1T1EOM the Belvoir Vale I continued my walk to 

 _L Nottingham the following day ; crossing a grand 

 old bridge over the Trent. Take it all in all, this may 

 be called perhaps the most English town in England ; 

 stirring, plucky and radical ; full of industrial intel- 

 lect and vigor. Its chief businesses involve and exer- 

 cise thought; and thought educed into one direction 

 and activity, runs naturally into others. The whole 

 population, under these influences, has become peopled 

 to a remarkable status and strength of opinion, senti- 

 ment and action. They prefix that large and generous 

 quality to their best doings and institutions, and have 

 their Peoples' College, Peoples' Park, &c. The Peoples' 

 Charter had its stronghold here, and all radical reforms 

 are sure to find sympathy and support among the 

 People of Nottingham. I should think no equal popu- 

 lation in the kingdom would sing " Britons never, 



