Experiment for bettering the Labouring Classes. 533 



to mention : the garden is not easy of access for those who find 

 themselves without an introduction. Mr. Herbert is said to be 

 a very amiable man, enthusiastically attached to his garden, 

 in which he spends much time : if, therefore, he allowed his 

 collection to be shown to all callers, he would in the summer 

 months be every day annoyed with company from Harrogate, 

 who, having little to do, are constantly going from one show- 

 place to another ; some from a real love of science, and others 

 to drive away ennui, which the tedium of a watering-place 

 very commonly produces. 



Newton-Kyme, June 19. 1830. N. H. I. 



Art. III. Some Account of the Progress of an Experiment going 

 on in Monmouthshire, for bettering the Condition of the Labouring 

 Classes. By John H. Moggridge, Esq. 



Sir, 

 Although considerable time has elapsed since my last 

 communication to you on the subject of my experiment for 

 bettering the condition of the labouring classes (Vol. III. 

 p. 167.), yet have I not forgotten my promise of occasionally 

 notifying its progress to you. It has now nearly two years 

 and a half of experience more, to boast of than when I trans- 

 mitted you the last particulars of its state and circumstances ; 

 and although these have been (and must be still more, I fear) 

 very injuriously affected by the distress which generally, if 

 not universally, pervades the country, yet has nothing occurred 

 to invalidate the principle on which the experiment was 

 founded, or even to occasion doubt as to its continued local 

 success. On the contrary, the effects of the pressure of the 

 times, and of the impolitic attempts which have been made, 

 with partial success, to fasten direct local taxation on the 

 laudable exertions of humble industry to set itself above want 

 in sickness and old age, and to reassume a portion at least of 

 that independence of spirit which their forefathers possessed, 

 have only added other proofs in support of the fact, — that 

 the labouring classes in this country have been degraded, im- 

 poverished, and demoralised, much more by the baneful sys- 

 tem of misgovernment to which the country has been long 

 subjected, than to any inherent vice in their own constitution, 

 or any personal fault of their own. The partial imposition of 

 poor-rates, church-rates, and highway- rates, though fortu- 

 nately defeated in the intention of its being made general, 

 and confined to that which the strict letter of the law unhap- 



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