Condition of the Labouring Classes. 41^ 



cashire, and the increased health of the work people, and this, 

 too, for ages to come, are surely important objects. The 

 unhappy circumstance of the work people being obliged to 

 labour so many hours a day, and the almost utter neglect of 

 the education of their children, are deplorable evils, which can 

 only be met by improved legislation, especially as to schools, 

 and by combination founded in justice. 



The Condition of the Labouring Classes^ we certainly think, 

 is, on the whole, improved since 1806. The people seem 

 rather better informed, even in the agricultural districts, and 

 undoubtedly a great deal more so in the manufacturing towns. 

 As to gardeners, with whom we are chiefly concerned, the 

 difference in their favour is astonishing ; not merely in their 

 knowledge of gardening, but on subjects of general interest. 

 There is much less drinking, and brutal enjoyment of every 

 description, among every class of country labourers and 

 mechanics than there was in 1806. Labouring men now 

 consider themselves as citizens, with certain rights natural and 

 civil, as well as their superiors ; they are capable of acting 

 with more independence, and in concert, with a view of effect- 

 ing permanent advantages for themselves and their descend- 

 ants. This good may be referred mainly to the prevalence 

 of peace, which has for fifteen years allowed the working of 

 such education as is to be got by existing schools, newspapers, 

 and cheap periodicals. Next to the establishment of a national 

 system of education, we are firmly persuaded that the greatest 

 good which the legislature could do to the labouring classes, 

 would be to take every tax off paper, printing, and newspapers. 

 Another good would be, a reserve of labour for public im- 

 provements, as it has been proposed for Ireland ; and a third, 

 facilities for voluntary emigration. 



Notwithstanding the general appearance of improvement 

 which we have noticed, the agricultural population every 

 where, and a portion of the manufacturing classes and mecha- 

 nics round the large towns, are in a state of great destitution. 

 The appearance of the labourers in Buckinghamshire was 

 wretched, we might almost say, in the extreme. We allude 

 more particularly to those whom we saw between Wootton 

 and Buckingham, and between that town and Banbury. 

 Beyond Banbury, near Wroxton Abbey, and, indeed, close 

 to its park gates, there is as wretched a looking village, we 

 will venture to say, as is to be met with in Britain. It may 

 give some idea to a Scotch gardener of the miserable poverty 

 of the inhabitants of this village, and of the low state of the 

 women, to be informed that the present proprietress of 

 Wroxton Abbey lends them a sort of coarse wheel, much 



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