24 th& Condition of Country Labourers. 



of the reputation of the experiment, and the characters of 

 these individuals is, that, not one of them finds any difficulty 

 in borrowing whatever money he may himself be deficient in 

 of the amount necessary to carry his intention into execution. 

 The site now cleared, (excepting of the timber trees,) for the 

 uses of the village, exceeds thirty acres in extent, in which are 

 included, besides the sites of the houses and appropriate gar- 

 dens, many considerable detached gardens ; a meadow of five 

 acres, reserved to the last for building-ground, if wanted; 

 various small places for the run of a single cow ; and a village 

 green of two acres nearly covered with flourishing oak trees. 

 As far as practicable, straight lines, or rows, and attempts at 

 uniformity have been avoided, and hitherto I have been able 

 to prevent more than four dwellings being grouped together. 

 The village is situated in a valley, on ground gently rising from 

 the bank of a romantic mountain river at its southernmost end ; 

 towards the north, stretching towards and unto my Bedwelty 

 woods, which cover the steeply rising hills on the west, as 

 the woods and plantations of this place do for the most 

 part, the more humble but finely broken eastern bank of the 

 valley. I have the pleasure to add, that, on the whole, not- 

 withstanding severe drawbacks occasioned by the increasing 

 difficulties of the times, there is still a tolerable prospect of ad- 

 ditions and improvements next year; and perhaps you will not 

 wonder when 1 say, that hours spent in the consideration how 

 these may be best effected, form some of the most interesting 

 of my life. I am, Sir, faithfully yours, 



John H. Moggridge. 

 Woodfield, near Newport, Monmouthshire, 

 October 11. 1826. 



We recommend the above most interesting communication 

 to all our readers, and more especially to such as have it in 

 their power to make similar experiments. Were it once to 

 become the fashion for country gentlemen to be as much occu- 

 pied in improving the condition of the labouring classes on 

 their estates, as they formerly were in improving the breeds 

 of cattle all over the country, how great and how beneficial 

 would be the change ! And why should not this kind of im- 

 provement come into fashion as well as any other ? Is it more 

 expensive, troublesome, or tedious, or less profitable, rational, 

 elevated, or entertaining ? Were such a taste to become gene- 

 ral, the first thing would be an exterior appearance of comfort 

 in the cottages and cottage-gardens on every gentleman's 



