His Birthplace and its Influences. 9 



is made at home, by women who spin their 

 own linsey wolsey, while the men go to kirk 

 and chapel in homespun hodden gray. Stal- 

 wart sons and comely maidens are brought 

 up on porridge, oatcake and milk ; in fact, 

 they desire no better food. Occasionally 

 barley bannocks, Whillimer cheese (a corrup- 

 tion, I believe, of Windermere), potato-pot, 

 and a bit of bacon vary the humble repast." 

 On this fare the Cumbrians thrive well, and 

 become lusty and strong. For the most part 

 they are men of large stature, big boned and 

 broad chested, with firm muscles, well-knit 

 joints, and sinewy arms, which give them 

 great advantage as wrestlers, and what they 

 want in agility and suppleness they make up 

 in sturdy stiffness and strength. 



In 1828, when Sir James Graham was 

 appointed High Sheriff of Cumberland, he 

 was met outside Carlisle by a cavalcade of 

 mounted " Statesmen," whom he called " a 

 body of men not to be matched in any other 

 part of the kingdom." It is sad to be com- 

 pelled to confess that the Cumberland States- 

 man is already a thing of the past. One of 

 the greatest misfortunes connected with Free 



