153 
On the Erection of Labourers' Cottages. 
crested buttons of a livery-suit, proclaim the dependence of the posses¬ 
sor,** but rather consider it to proclaim" the taste of the proprietor. 
It is a lamentable fact, and a very great proof of the want of good 
taste, that very frequently we see plain and uncouth cottages erected, 
when the same materials, jiidicrously arranged, with the same, or a very 
little niore, expence, would have raised a cottage equally commodious, 
and one that would, by its external arrangements, excite a degree of 
interest in the passing stranger. 
We may have a pretty just idea of a man’s political opinions, by a 
knowledge of the opinions of those he chiefly associates with,—of his 
religious opinions, by a perusal of his library, &c.,—of his domestic 
happiness, by seeing him at his own fire-side,—but we can have no 
better criterion for the landed proprietor’s taste, than by viewing the 
various cottages on his estates. Besides, there ought to be a national 
pride implanted in every individual who intends building a cottage, that 
he will keep pace with the march of improvement, and produce some¬ 
thing, that is more useful, neat, and simplified, than he has heretofore 
seen: and further, this manner of proceeding will not only show the good 
taste of the proprietor, but also, his good and benevolent disposition. A 
neat cottage and small garden, is doubtless, calculated to have great effect 
upon the morals of the labourer; it will induce him to forsake the society 
of those who spend one-fifth of their time over a pipe and pot, at the ale¬ 
house, and haste to delve his little yard, and train the honeysuckle round 
his rustic door. 
The design here given, is for two dwelling’s united; this being much 
preferable to single houses, by'the advantage of a near neighbour, in case 
of sickness, &c. One of the houses is a little larger than the other, and 
is intended, for a man and wife with a family, where a bed may be placed 
in the recess in the kitchen; and if the family were large, a bed might 
be put up in the large closet under the stairs. The other house is intend¬ 
ed for a man and wife, without a family. In each house, a is the 
entrance; 6, kitchen; c, washhouse; d, closet under stairs; gf, privy, /t, 
pigstye;—bed-rooms above. 
This house may be built of stone, or brick, plastered outside, having a 
straw roof; the washhouses, &c. are lean-to*s; the chimney stalks may be 
ornamented with plaster or cement; the windows may have wooden 
mullions, painted like stone. I have seen windows of this sort, made 
to turn round on a pivot and socket at the centre, which is very useful 
for airing the apartments. This cottage is adapted, in fact, for almost 
any situation ; but every dwelling ought to be raised a little above the 
grounds which surround it, and well drained underneath. ! have shown 
a pigstye to each house, as I consider that a pig is a thing that every la¬ 
bourer should be .provided with ; and every peasant’s wife should ^nd 
time to attend to one, or perhaps two, that herself and family may reap 
VoL. I, No. 4. w 
