TO THE SECOND EDITION. 



5 



instance, a little boy only ten years old would earn 3s. 

 per week, his mother something more. Another woman 

 would bring her infant children into the scutching- house, 

 and earn herself from 3s. 6d. to 45. 6d. per week, without 

 materially interfering with her domestic concerns. Girls, 

 boys, and women obtained similar sums, their wages in- 

 creasing as they became more expert. The price per 

 stone, extra dressed, is 2^. 6d. Mr.Warnes then referred 

 to a visit which Mr. Nichols, the Poor Law Commis- 

 sioner, paid to his flax establishment last summer ; — struck 

 w^ith the skill displayed by one of the boys, he in- 

 quired his age ; the lad replied, ' almost fourteen.' Mr. 

 Nichols then asked him what he could earn ; he answered 

 6s. 6d. a week ! Mr. Warnes had a Belgian workman, 

 who, although very expert, could not earn much more 

 than double that sum. Thus they saw that the juvenile 

 population, the women, and weaker hands, could be pro- 

 fitably employed through the culture and preparation of 

 flax, and, instead of being burdensome, might become 

 beneficial to society. Amongst those whom he designated 

 ' weaker hands ' were many youths too well known at the 

 boards of guardians ; for whom, except at hay-making and 

 harvest, little or no work upon farms could be found, and 

 who were therefore consigned to the union house — an 

 unfortunate race ! Yet these same young men would, 

 according to Mr. Warnes' experience, make better flax- 

 dressers than the more robust. In whatever way the 

 subject was considered, nothing but advantages and bless- 

 ings of no common order could be discerned ; and when 

 brought into practice their most sanguine expectations 

 would be more than realized. Mr. Warnes said that the 

 poor-rates of Trimingham were nominal, owing to the 



