4.3 



They consume nearly all they produce, and are con- 

 sidered happy if they have a sufficient surplus for sale 

 to meet the demands of a few shillings annually for the 

 payment of their trifling; taxes and local assessments, 

 it was the universal opinion of all with whom I had 

 any conversation on the topic, that this description 

 of peasants were hitherto in a worse condition than 

 under the old tenures ; and as this was attributed to 

 the depression of Agriculture, and the want of 

 capital, and of incitement to the large Occupiers to 

 employ their spare time, it was not considered .to be 

 an impeachment of the wisdom which had planned 

 and executed their emancipation. 



Though the rate of Wages is very low (see 

 Appendix, No. 11), not averaging more than five- 

 pence per day, yet the day labourers who have 

 constant employment, with a cottage, potatoe 

 ground, and flax patch, are said to be somewhat 

 better circumstanced than those persons who have 

 been recently raised from the Feudal ranks to that 

 of Freehold proprietors. 



Those labourers who are boarded in the houses of 

 their employers, have a sufficiency of food, consisting 

 of rye bread, potatoes, of buck-wheat made into 

 soups of various kinds ; and in many instances are 

 provided with meat, commonly bacon, twice a week. 



The aged and infirm Poor have demanded con- 

 sideration only since the abolition of the feudal tenures. 

 Before that period, each lord considered himself 

 bound to assist in their support, and generally 

 attended to that duty, where the deficiency of means 

 in the power of the relations of the aged and infirm 

 made it requisite. A regular system of taxation for 

 the poor has not yet been introduced, though the first 

 steps towards it have been taken. The assessments 

 for the widows and orphans of those who fell in the 

 late conflicts, and for such as were disabled in the 

 service, has been already noticed. It is kept distinct 



G 



