PREFACE 11 



my disposal the manuscript of a book on 

 country life compiled by him some years ago, 

 but never published. I have not hesitated 

 to insert here and there some considerable 

 portions of this manuscript almost verbatim. 

 I wish also to thank the Editors of the Con- 

 temporary Review and the Nation for their 

 permission to reprint certain paragraphs from 

 articles formerly contributed to these journals 

 by myself. 



These pages were already in the press when 

 the Report of the Land Enquiry Committee, 

 Vol. I., made its appearance ; I was therefore, 

 to my great regret, unable to avail myself of 

 the invaluable information presented by the 

 Committee. 



E. N. B. 



