uniting the Picturesque mth internal Cornfort. 293 



would substitute decent comfort, though not the luxurious 

 " cottage of gentility," with its two water-closets, hot air, &c., 

 which you proposed in a late Number, and which is only 

 suited to that improved condition of the lower orders to 

 which you seem to look forward. Until they arrive at that 

 state, I would propose practicable and cheap plans of im- 

 provement, suited to their present state ; for these only are 

 likely to be effected. I would make the houses comfortable 

 and convenient, and such as a poor man ought to have in a 

 country like this. I would have in a village cottages of several 

 sizes, suited to different families. All should have a good 

 warm living-room (parlours are useless to the poor), a wash- 

 house and pantry, with two, three, and in some cases, four 

 bed-rooms, and an out place for wood, coal, &c. This is all 

 a labourer requires, as far as the house is concerned. To 

 each house I would add a good garden and pigsty; for 

 every poor man should keep a pig : and to some cottages I 

 would allot land enough to keep a cow, that those who are 

 saving and industrious might have the chance of improving 

 their condition. By this plan all the families in a parish 

 would be properly accommodated : for as one family became 

 larger, another would become smaller by death, &c. ; so that 

 I would move the families accordingly, that each might have 

 the number of bed-rooms required. Now, all this is practi- 

 cable in most parishes, especially in those which are wholly 

 the property of one landlord ; and I am convinced that 50/. 

 or 60/. a quarter, properly expended, would soon effect all 

 that I have stated above in a moderate-sized village. 



I live in a village which is a remarkably pretty one, and I 

 am a great lover of the picturesque, which I would carefully 

 preserve on the outside of cottages. I give a plan {Jigs. 56. 

 57.) for a double cottage ; and, if you think it worth notice, 

 I will foi-ward some more which I have by me. [We shall 

 be most happy to receive them.] 



In this plan {Jig. 57.) of a double cottage, uniting the 

 picturesque with internal comfort, the larger house would 

 accommodate a family with children of both sexes : it contains 

 three bed-rooms. If the children were numerous, they might 

 sleep in the two upper rooms; the parents in that below. 

 There is a lean-to to this cottage, containing the pantry {a), 

 and wood-house {b) : the latter would hold fuel, and all the 

 tubs, pans, &c. ; so that the wash-house (c) might be always 

 clean and tidy. There might be a store-closet under the 

 stairs {d). There is a copper in the wash-house, and an oven 

 by the fire ; and the house would be sufficient for a family 

 keeping a cow. 



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