256 RURAL ECONOMY OF ENGLAND. 



brings forth fruit under his hands for the greater good 

 of the community, that fortune, which in a manner is 

 only intrusted to his care. 



To the north of the green plains of Leicester the moun- 

 tains which compose the two counties of Nottingham and 

 Derby take their rise. Properly speaking, the mountain- 

 ous district is confined to Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire 

 being rather what may be called a hilly country, though 

 partaking of the character of the Derbyshire mountains. 

 In former times Sherwood Forest, made famous by the 

 exploits of Eobin Hood, covered the greater part of these 

 hills. The forest has now disappeared before the pro- 

 gress of the plough, but the sterility of the soil still 

 remains. By a good fortune peculiar to England, the 

 very barrenness of the old forest has proved advantage- 

 ous in one respect : it has continued in the possession of 

 a few noblemen, who, for their own enjoyment, have laid 

 it out in fine parks and extensive estates. The district 

 goes by the name of the Dukery, because the number of 

 ducal residences it contains is greater than in any other 

 part of England. The Dukes of Newcastle and Port- 

 land, and Earls Manvers and Scarborough, have all 

 splendid residences there. In a remote corner of the 

 forest, not far from the oaks still shown as those which 

 afforded protection to Robin Hood, stands the half-ruined 

 Abbey of Newstead, the scene of Lord Byron's boyhood. 

 Any one who has visited this secluded spot can better 

 understand how, amid ruins haunted by the spirits of 

 the dispossessed monks, and the silent woods conjuring 

 up stories of bold outlaws, that melancholy genius which 

 sprung out of it was formed. 



The Duke of Portland, the largest proprietor in this 

 part of England, is also one of the greatest agriculturists 

 in the country. During his long and honourable career 



