HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 97 



illustrative of the state of the poor, &c. in England. His account 

 of Lichfield, in 1797, is equally correct and interesting, being the 

 result of the strictest inquiry and actual observation, " Lichfield," 

 says this intelligent writer, " contains three parishes ; viz. St. 

 Mary's, St. Chadd's, and St. Michael's. The first has most houses 

 and inhabitants, but no land ; the other two have few houses, but 

 a considerable quantity of land. In 1781, the number of houses in 

 Lichfield was 723 ; and of inhabitants about 3555. It is supposed 

 that, since that period, the population has considerably increased. 

 In the whole city 408 houses pay the window-tax ; the number ex- 

 empted could not be ascertained. The prices of provisions are, 

 beef and mutton, 5d. the pound ; veal, 4f d. ; bacon, 9|d. and lOd. 

 the pound ; milk, of a quart for a penny ; butter, lid. the pound ; 

 potatoes, 4s. the bushel ; bread-flour, 5s. the stone ; coals, 6d. the 

 hundred weight. 



" The wages of labourers are from 9s. to 12s. a- week, according 

 to the season ; women for weeding, are paid 8d. a-day ; for hay- 

 making, lOd. a-day and victuals. Those who spin lint, earn from 

 4d. to 6d. a-day. There are 46 alehouses i this city ; and five 

 friendly societies for men, and two for women : from 100 to 200 

 members belong to each society. 



" Land near the city lets from c3. to o4. an acre : the average 

 is about 30s. an acre. Farms are generally small : the principal 

 articles of cultivation are, wheat, barley, oats, turnips, and clover. 

 Tithes are mostly taken in kind. The total land-tax for the city 

 iso'420. 19s. 4d. The poor are maintained at their own houses; 

 about 23 pensioners at present receive ,2. 17s. 6d. a-week ; six of 

 these are bastards. Several house-rents are paid, and casual reliefs 

 are given to many of the necessitous. 



" The rates in St. Mary's are about 3s. in the pound on the nomi- 

 nal rental ; in St. Chadd's and St. Michael's half the rack-rents are 

 assessed. St. Mary's and St. Chadd's have each a work-house. In 

 St. Mary's work-house there are at present 41 paupers. They 

 manufacture a little blanketing for the use of the house."* 



St. Mary's Church is situated on the south side of the market- 

 place, in the central part of the city. According to an inscription 

 on the steeple of the ancient structure, this church was first founded 

 in the year 856, and this date is also recorded in the parish register. 

 The authenticity of this date, however, is questioned by Mr. Shaw, 



* Sir F. M, Eden's State of the Poor, &c. in England, Vol. II. p. 651. 



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