the Condition of the Labouring Classes. 1 65 



remarking only that this is by no means a solitary instance, 

 though, as must be expected, few can be so complete, that 

 there must be shades of difference between each, and that it 

 shall be merely a concise narrative of facts. Some time in the 

 course of the second year of my experiment, riding on horse- 

 back by a barn situated on a farm, the whole of the land 

 belonging to which I had laid down to pasture, and which was 

 on that account unused, my attention was excited by the 

 sound of voices proceeding from within it. Upon alighting, and 

 entering the barn, I saw a young man and woman, the latter 

 sitting upon a coverlid or rug covering some straw ; whilst the 

 former was standing by, earnestly conversing upon the not 

 vei'y promising aspect of their worldly affairs. I quickly 

 learned that they were a newly married couple, that they were 

 strangers and destitute ; and that my bailiff had granted them 

 permission to shelter for a few nights in the deserted barn. 

 There appeared to me an evident disposition in both to 

 wrestle with the world for the chance of better times ; and the 

 continued occupancy of the barn, with ready consent to the 

 husband's running up a rude chimney in one corner, which he 

 said he could himself perform with materials at hand, were 

 granted. The man became a labourer on my farm; and, 

 pleased with his conduct, after three or four months' tenancy 

 of the barn, winter advancing, and a small house becoming 

 vacant, he and his wife were transferred to it, and he became 

 my carter. After a while I spoke to them of " a house of 

 their own," and promised them assistance. The carter shortly 

 asked leave to convert himself into a collier, and he succeeded 

 in becoming a good one. In the beginning of the year 1824 he 

 reminded me of my promise to let him have land on a build- 

 ing' lease, obtained permission to erect a very humble cottage 

 in the first instance, rather than to " be beholden to any one ibr 

 money," and became possessor of thirty-six perches of ground, 

 which was cleared for him. Perfectly satisfied with his pro- 

 ceedings, I told him to lay out the ground-rent when due, in 

 improving his garden ; and on the 22d of September, 1826, he 

 paid me one year's rent, saying he could spare it. On the 2d of 

 February last he begged to be allowed to extend his garden, and 

 had twenty-eight perches added to it. On the 6th of this month, 

 he brought his rent for the first taking in full, up to the 2d of 

 August last, and petitioned for another addition of half an acre. 

 Apprehensive that the man was over-rating his own powers, 

 I hesitated, and told him my fears, which he assured me were 

 groundless. I minutely inspected his former undertakings^ 

 and was convinced, in consequence, that (in his own words 



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