Labourers' Cottages. 



413 



the same cost ; in some districts not so far inland, for somewhat 

 less. 



Rent. — In determining the amount of rent of the cottages before 

 spoken of, the consideration was, how much the daily labourer, 

 earning from 125. to 15s. per week, could really afford to pay, 

 rather than what he would readily have promised to give, had ad- 

 vantage been taken of his necessity and the utmost rent exacted. 

 The rent charged for one of these cottages, with a garden contain- 

 ing about 20 perches of land, is 31. 10s. per annum ; all the taxes 

 and rates of every description being paid by the landlord. This 

 rent yields only a small rate of interest upon the outlay, but while 

 our appeal is made to generous feeling more than to calculating 

 speculation, we yet venture to say that it will bear comparison 

 with the return upon the generality of farm-buildings. 



These cottages have been erected for the express purpose of bet- 

 tering the moral and social condition of the labourer and his family ; 

 and it will be seen in the following rules, that in accordance there- 

 with, one of the conditions is, that the tenant shall not take in 

 lodgers without express permission. But in cases where the pro- 

 prietor takes every shilling which the cottage will let for, can he, 

 in fairness, enforce so salutary a proviso ? While, on the other 

 hand, the occupier, from the profits obtained from lodgers, can 

 easily afford to pay a higher rent in the one than in the other case. 



In addition to the customary agreement in use upon the estate, 

 the following condition should be strictly enforced : — 



That no tenant-cottager shall take in any lodger or lodgers 

 under penalty of forfeiting a quarter's rent for the first offence, 

 half a year's rent for the second, and deprivation of his cottage and 

 land for the third transgression ; unless he has first obtained, in 

 writing, the consent of the proprietor, or his agent, and of the 

 clergyman of the parish. This permission should in no case be 

 granted, unless the circumstances of his family, in regard to num- 

 bers, sex, age, &c., are such as, with the strictest propriety, admit 

 of it being given. 



Observation. — I have experienced considerable difficulty in 

 enforcing this important rule relating to lodgers ; and recom- 

 mend that great vigilance be used, as the temptation of gain 

 from this source outweighs the inconvenience and annoyance 

 the lodger causes to the cottager, and endangers the re-produc- 

 tion of all those evils from which, perhaps, he has but recently 

 emerged. 



General Remarks. — These cottages, placed in groups of three, 

 each surrounded by a neat garden, and the centre cottage slightly 

 in advance of the others, have a neat and comfortable appearance, 

 rendering them agreeable features in the rural landscape ; more 

 especially when associated with the pleasing consideration that 



