THE EASTERN COUNTIES. 227 



lands have been gradually divided, enclosed, and culti- 

 vated, and, owing to the four-course system, now rank 

 equal to the full average of English lands. As in Norfolk, 

 we here also find an influential and energetic promoter 

 of the revolution the celebrated Duke of Bedford 

 who, like Lord Leicester, has realised an enormous for- 

 tune. A visit to Woburn, the seat of the Bedford family, 

 with the farms belonging to it, is the necessary sequel 

 of a visit to Holkham. Besides the galleries of his- 

 torical paintings, adorned with portraits by Van Dyke, 

 which at every step revive recollections of illustrious 

 members of the house of Russell, princes, and great 

 men of their time, there are other galleries filled with 

 models of ploughs, representations of animals of differ- 

 ent breeds, samples of agricultural produce in fact, a 

 complete agricultural museum. Of these trophies the 

 Bedford family is no less proud than of the others. 



The conduct of the present Duke towards his tenantry 

 presents another model for imitation. He caused all his 

 rents to be revised after the crisis, and offered new terms 

 to his tenants, such as they willingly accepted ; he built 

 for his labourers excellent cottages, with small gar- 

 dens attached, schools for their children, churches, &c. 

 These benevolent acts do not ultimately involve any 

 sacrifice ; all that is necessary is the advance of money. 

 In fact, the rent of his property has not been sensibly 

 diminished, but will even be increased in consequence of 

 the extensive works in draining, farm-offices, and other 

 substantial improvements which he has effected. The 

 assistance afforded by the Duke to his tenants has been 

 more apparent than real. In giving them the option 

 of a lease at a fixed or a grain rent, he restored their 

 confidence and excited emulation. An English farmer 

 is capable of any effort, when he feels confident that 



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