By Sir Charles Hobhouse, Bart. 



211 



mav be that bis life lacks something of the independence of the 

 quarrvman, but on the other hand it has far more of sound discipline, 

 quietude and order. 



It is rare still to see butcher's meat amongst any class of our 

 hand-labourers, but the meal of bacon, potatoes, fresh vegetables, 

 tea and soup is usually plentiful, wholesome and cleanly cooked. 



The cottage accommodation, though not sufficient for all those 

 who make a livelihood within the parish, is for the most part good 

 and cheap enough of its kind, and is certainly not perversive of life's 

 decencies. There is usually a good kitchen, a scullery, a larder, a 

 coal hole, and from two to three bedrooms. There is a vegetable 

 garden of from fifteen to twenty perch, and a plot for flowers, 

 and if more ground is wanted for potatoes, it can be obtained in 

 allotment land at about 9d. a perch per annnm. The average yearly 

 rent is £5, the landlord paying the taxes. The sanitary arrange- 

 ments are under the eye of the rural sanitary authority, and are 

 rarely a subject of real complaint. 



Our cottager has also an excellent National School, under Govern- 

 ment control and direction, and the daily superintendence of the 

 Rector, where he can educate his children in all essentials at Id. a 

 week — or less than 4y. a year; and a Sunday school, where education 

 is given gratis. He has a Church, where, twice on Sundays and 

 once on week-days, and on the greater fasts and festivals, he can 

 always find a free seat, and which is warmed and lighted for him in 

 the winter. He has, further, the advantages of a fortnightly offer- 

 tory, administered by the Rector ; of a benefit club, and a clothing 

 club, maintained by his own subscriptions. The benefit club sub- 

 scriptions are funded under rules sanctioned by the Legislature, are 

 available in times of sickness, accident, or infirmity, and are dis- 

 tributed by a governing body elected from out the subscribers 

 themselves. 



And, these resources failing, the cottager can at the worst fall 

 back upon the poor-law system. Unhappily this, as at present ad- 

 ministered, will assist him in needs which are the result of his own 

 improvidence or misconduct; but on its better side it will at least 

 rescue from actual want and starvation those who, from no fault of 



