THE NOETHERN COUNTIES. 273 



However rich these farmers were, they had not all a 

 capital sufficient for the great extent of their farms ; and 

 the fall in prices, bearing upon large quantities of pro- 

 duce, proved disastrous for them. It is a remarkable 

 fact, that this is the only quarter in England where rents 

 have declined since 1815 : from about 15s. per acre, to 

 which they had attained by the end of the war, they fell 

 to 13s. before the crisis, and are lower since. The Duke 

 of Northumberland has latterly reduced his rents ten per 

 cent ; and another large proprietor, the Duke of Portland, 

 has done more, his reductions amounting, it is said, to 

 twenty-five per cent. At the same time, these powerful 

 landlords carry on, at their own expense, extensive works 

 of draining, &c., upon the usual terms of five per cent. 

 By means of these improvements, and supposing a 

 reduction to be made in the over-sized farms, as in Wilt- 

 shire, the balance will finally be adjusted. * 



* The above sketch of the somewhat anomalous position of the county of Nor- 

 thumberland is no doubt justified by facts ; but to account in some measure for 

 this, it may be necessary to explain, that the nature of the soil is very various, 

 and, after all, it was to a very limited extent, until the system of thorough drain- 

 age was introduced, that turnip husbandry could be successfully practised ; and 

 even with this advantage, a large portion of the county is ill adapted for the most 

 profitable occupation, being of that poor clay description which has been found 

 least able to contend with low prices. Upon the dry lands on the north-eastern 

 border, where the farms are chiefly large, no better system of husbandry is to be 

 found, and rents have been well supported. J. D. 



