268 RURAL ECONOMY OF ENGLAND. 



of Eden in the north, and Kendal in the south ; other- 

 wise, it is the Switzerland of England, the. land of lakes 

 so celebrated by the poets. From Manchester and Liver- 

 pool a railway runs to the banks of Windermere, the first 

 in order, as well as the largest and most beautiful, of all 

 the lakes. Emerging from the noise and smoke of the 

 manufacturing districts, one finds himself, as if by magic, 

 in a smiling solitude, where all is peaceful, fresh, and 

 pure; limpid waters, bracing air, and verdant soil, are 

 exchanged for muddy water, murky atmosphere, and a 

 soil black with swamps and collieries. A steamer carries 

 you up the long and narrow lake, which winds like a 

 river through charming scenery. Windermere is only 

 ten miles long by one broad. At its further end pas- 

 sengers land at Ambleside, where excellent coaches are 

 waiting to convey them through passes, and along the 

 banks of other lakes, to Keswick. 



In the south-east of Cumberland rise the highest peaks 

 of England proper, Scafell, Helvellyn, and Skiddaw, which 

 are the highest in the island, with the exception of the 

 Caernarvonshire and Scotch mountains. The lakes which 

 lie at the base of these masses of rock are a continuation 

 of those of Westmoreland. At one time a population 

 of small proprietors, called Statesmen, dwelt on the bor- 

 ders of these lakes. Each family possessed fifty to one 

 hundred acres, which they had continued to cultivate 

 for many generations. It is supposed that this class 

 of people owed their origin to the necessity of defence 

 against the invasions of Scottish marauders. This district 

 being close upon the borders of Scotland, and much ex- 

 posed to the incursions of marauders, it is said that the 

 feudal lords made over portions of land to certain indi- 

 viduals, upon condition of personal service, as in the case 

 of the Highland clans. Whether this supposition be true 



