258 RUKAL ECONOMY OF ENGLAND. 



It is true that the no less beneficial influence of manu- 

 factures has to be added to that produced by large pro- 

 perty in the hands of men devoted to the public good. 

 The town of Nottingham, with its suburbs, has a popu- 

 lation of about one hundred thousand, and is the seat of 

 numerous manufactures. The population of the county 

 has doubled within the last fifty years, and during the 

 same period rents have tripled. These two facts are every- 

 where observable, the last being a result of the former. 

 The Trent valley, the natural fertility of which forms an 

 exception to the rest of the county, is of extraordinary 

 richness. 



Derbyshire, one of the most picturesque counties in 

 England, is visited by crowds during the summer. The 

 charming village of Matlock is the headquarters of 

 tourists. It is famous for its mineral waters, and its 

 situation reminds one of the prettiest valleys in the 

 Pyrenees. From this quarter are made all kinds of 

 excursions, sometimes to the tops of the neighbouring 

 mountains or into the deep dales ; but the most inte- 

 resting is that to Chatsworth, the magnificent residence 

 of the Duke of Devonshire. The roads through his im- 

 mense park are, with great liberality, thrown open to 

 all, and used as freely as the Queen's highway. These 

 large properties are not altogether profit ; for, however 

 wealthy may be the proprietor, the keeping up of that 

 beautiful palace, with its gardens and magnificent park, 

 all which the public enjoy more than the owner himself, is 

 attended with great expense. The saying, Noblesse oblige, 

 applies to the English more than to any other people. In 

 England, titles and wealth command great respect, but the 

 necessity of keeping them up sometimes ends in ruining 

 the possessors. One can foresee that a time will come 

 when no private fortune will be able to stand the expense 



