SIX MONTHS TOUR

THROUGH THE

NORTH of ENGLAND.

CONTAINING,

An Account of the prefent State of Agriculturej

IWanufac ruRiis and Population, in feveral

Counties of this Kingdom.

p A R T I e

% The Nature, Value, and Rental
of the Soil.

31. The Size of Farms, with Ac-
counts of their Stock, Produdls,
Population, and various Methods
cf Culture.

III. The Ufe, Expence, and ProSt
of feveral Sorts of Manure.

IV. The Breed of Cattle, and the
refpeiflivej'rofits attending them.

V. The State of the Wafte Lands
■which might and ought to be
cultivated.

U L A R L Yi

VI. The Condition and Number of
the Poor, with their Rates,
Earnings, ^c.

VII. The Prices of Labour and
Provifions, and the Proportion
between them.

Vill. The Regifter of many curious
and ufcful Experiments in Agri-
culture, and general Praftices ia
rural Oeconomics, communicated
by feveral of the Nobility, Gen-
try, &c. (3'e4

INTERSPERSED
"With Defcrlptions of the Seats of the Nobility and Gentry •
and other remarkable Objefts : Illuflrated with Copper Plates of
fuch Implements of Hufbandry, as deferve to be generally known •
and Views of fome piifturefque Scenes, which occurred in the Courfs
of the Journey.

La feule vole de fe procurer un corps complet d'agriculture feroit, fans
doute, de raffembler les diverfes obfervationS qu'auroient fourni dans
•haque province. Enc vclopedie.

VOL. IIL

L O N D O Ni

Printed for W. Strahan; W. Nicoll, N°5i. in St.

Paul's Church-yard ; B.Collins, at Salilburyj

and J, Balfour, at Edinburgh.

M DCC LXX.

/ «4- s

CONTENTS

O F

VOLUME III.

S

L E T T E R XV.

TATE of hujhandry from Raby to New-
caftle — Culture of mujlard at Durham
— Mr. Carr'j feat at Cocken — Town
of Newcaftle — Collieries — Ironworks^

P. I to \6,

LETTER XVI.

Huflmndry from Newcaftle to Carlifle — "Duke
of Northumberland'^ at Alnwick — Mr,
Dixon'j at Belford — His fpirited works —
His experiments in agriculture — On draining
— On laying land to grafs — On cabbages —
On fences — Mr. Clarke'j experiments — Im-
plements — Moor hufhandry — Vafl moors
wajle — Mr. WilkieV experiments — On car-
rots — Cheviot hills — Extenfive zvaftes highly
A 2 improve'^

W CONTENTS.

impro'veable — Reraa^-ks — Wretched manage"
ment of Jhcep — 5/> Walter BlacketV at^o\-
lington — Bis excellent fences — Vafi tracks
cf excellent land wafte — Military way — Ro-
man wall — General remarks en the hufhandry
of Northumberland, P. i6 to 1 16.

LETTER XVII.

'TrDm Carlifle to Kendal — Mamif azures at Car-
jifle — Vafi tracks cf wajle land — Kefwick

— The Lake and wonderful environs -— Moun-
tains — Rocks — Cafcades — Ulles water —
Beautiful fcenes — Sir James Lowther'j, at

. Lovvther — His excellent efiahlifhment in favour
ef marriage — Haw's water — Fine landfcapes

— Vafi uncultivated moors from Shapp to Ken-
dal — Manufactures at Kendal — Winnan-
der mcer — Glorious Lake — Beautiful fcenes

— Mountains — Jflands — Tour of the Lake

— Amazing and mofl fuperlative profpe^^

P. ii6 to 1 88.

LETTER XVIII.

^rom Kendal to Manchefler — Lancader —
Marling — Culture of potatoes — Different forts

4

CONTENTS. V

ef marie — ManufaEliires at Warrington — At
Prefect — I'own of Le verpool — Exchange —
St. PaulV — Nohle docks — Mr. Parke'j ex-
perhnents on the improvement of bogs — Ma-
nufa^lures at Manchefter, P. i88 10250,

LETTER XIX.

tour of the Duke of Bridgwater*j navigation —
Defcription of the zvorks at Manchefter — •
Excellent contrivance for unloading the boats —
The wear — Remarks — Canal carried acrofs
the river Irwell at Barton Bridge — Admira-
ble inventions for moving earth — Difcovery of
lime — Vafi works carrying on at Worfley —
The tunnel — Waggons for the conveyance of
the coal — A mill of a new confiruEiion : Va^
riety of powers — Improvement of a morafs —
The canal at Waterford — Carried acrofs the
Merfey — Immenfe works at Sale moor —
And at Dunham — Dejign of carrying the ca-
val to Leverpool — Amazing fchcme — Etif
logy en the noble fpirit of the Duke,

P. 250 to 291.

LET.

vi CONTENTS.

LETTER XX.

From Dunham io Birmingham — Method of
making the famous Chefhire cheefe — Manu-
f azures at Knutsford ■ — Management of cows
StafFordniire^o//m^j at Burflem, &c. — Na-
ligation at Harecaftle — Stupendous under-
inking — Manufa^ures at Newcaftle,

P. 291 to 341.

LETTER XXI.

Manufactures at Birmingham — The Leafowes
— Elegant landfcapes — Lord Littleton'j at
Hagley — The park — Woods — Cafcades —
Beautiful and pi£lurefque fcenes,

P. 341 to 361.

LETTER XXII.

Hufhandry from Hagley to Oxford — Lord Lit-
tletonV experiments in draining — Manufac-
tures at Worcefter — Excellent hufhandry in
the Vale of Evefham — Mr^ Penny 'j experi-
ments in agriculture — On planting wheat —
Onfleeps — On barley — On Lucerne — Earl
^/ Lichfield 'j at Ditchley, P. 361 10410.

LET-

CONTENTS. vii

LETTER XXIII.

City of Oxford — General GuifeV pEiures —
Chrift's Church — RadclifFZi/^r^;^ — Pic-
ture gallery — Vomfret Jlatues — Arundelian
marbles •— Bodieian Library^

P. 410 to 437.

K SIX

A

SIX MONTHS TOUR, ^^,

LETTER XV.

FROM Rahy to Dut'ham the land is
in general very good, letting fo high
as from 1 5 j. to 3 /. but the average
is not above zis. or 22 j. Farms in general
under an hundred a-year.

About that city there is much muftard
cultivated : The farmers fow it alone, on
good rich moift land ; and on that which
is pared and burnt. They get from 30 to
3 00 bufhels per acre ; and the price varies
from IOJ-. to 7.0)3. a bufhel : Some crops
worth 100/. an acre have been known.
When once muftard has been fown on a
piece of land, it can never begot out again:
In tillage it rifes with every crop that is
fown, which obliges the farmers to lay
down fuch lands to grafs, which fmotbers
it, but if broke up again centuries after-
wards, a crop of muftard is fure to rife.
Vol. III. B Taking

[ 2 J

Taking the road to Newcajlle, we flop-
ped to view the ornamented grounds of

Carr, Efq.j at Cocken, which are laid

out with fo much tafte, that it is a great
omiflion in any traveller to pafs without
feeing them ; that Gentleman and his
Lady, Lady Mary Carr, have both givert
much attention to the aflifting nature in
their very beautiful Ipot, by rendering her
acceffible.

Cocken has the advantage of a fine river,
in fome places very rapid, and in- others
calm and fmooth- ; it takes a very fine wav-
ing courfe through the grounds, and has
the noble advantage of a various {hoar, irt
fome places compofed of noble rocks, in
others of hanging woods, and alfo of cul-
tivated inclofures : Art has juxiicioufly aimed
at nothing more than, enabling the fpefta-
tor to view thefe beau-ties to the bell: ad-
vantage.

The firft point to which we were con-
duced, is a feat in a fnaall circular plot,
among the wood, north of the houfe, from
which Chefi'er fteeple is caught in a very
piifliwefque manner, between two project-
ing hills of wood : The fpot is on the brink
of a precipice, at the bottom of which the

rivec

[ 3 ]

river bends very finely : The country is in
general wild and uncultivated, but to the
left is a hill of wood, which varies the
fcene.

Winding a little to the left, the walk
leads to the dairy, from which, though very
near the feat juft defcribed, the view is at
once quite different. The country is now
cultivated, the river divides, and you com-
mand it both ways. To the right is a very
fine fear of rock, nobly crowned with pen-
dent wood.

You are next condudled down the hill,
and purfue the walk around a find large
meadow upon the banks of the river j it
then enters a wood under a moft romantic
wall of rock ; the walk (a terrafs on the
edge of the river) is totally the work of art,
being cut out of the rock with much diffi-
culty, and at a great expence. The ro-
mantic fcenery of thefe rocks is exceedingly
fine, for oaks, elms, and other trees grow
out of every cleft to a great height, and
hanging over your head, almofl threaten
you as you move. The wild imagination
of Salvatoi' has fcarcely pidlured any thing
more flriking, or in a more fpirited flile
than this variety of wood — breaking forth
B 2 from

[ 4 i

from the craggy clefts and chafms of thefe
noble rocks : This intermixture of rock
and wood is truly romantic and pidlurefque.
The river aids the general effedt, by the
rapidity of its current; for raging over rocks
^nd ftones, the roar is in unifon with its
fhoar, and all together tend ftrongly to
imprefs upon the mind an idea of awe and
terror.

Advancing through this noble fcene, the
walk leads through a grafs dale, the rocks
are loft, and the whole fcene varied : On
one fide the river is a hill covered with
wood ; and you view the other through a
tall fcattered hedge in a moft pleafing man-
ner; it is a projediing rock, with a fine
fcattering of fhrubby wood beautifully vari-
egated. Here you fhould turn and view
the rocks you have left; the fun (hining on
them gives their refle(ftion, in the fmooth
parts of the river, in a ftile very pi(5turefque.
Still advancing, you catch in front among
the wood a ruin on the banks of the river,
half covered with ivy, and backed nobly
with wood ; the river rapid and romantic,
under a new wall of formidable rocks.
Juft before you come to the abbey, you
may remark an old oak, fo connected with

rock.

[ 5 ]

rock, that one may almoft call it half wood
and half flone.

Oppoiite the abbey the rocks give a fine
curve, and under them the river and terrafs
wind in the moft beautiful manner : It is
here quite an amphitheatre of w^ood and
rock ; wild, romantic, and fublime.

Seating yourfelf on a bench upon the
little hill under the rock with an elm in
front, the view is very ftriking. To the
right the wall of rocks prefents its bold
front, the river loiing itfelf under them,
and the oppofite ileep of wood, in the moft
beautiful manner. To the left a fine wave
of woody hill ; the river, rapid in its courfe,
fills your ear with the found of its current.

Coming to the turn of the walk, the
profpedl back upon the rocks is prodigi-
oufly fine : They are {een as it were in
perfpedive, and their tops, all crowned
with oaks, have a noble effed:.

Winding up to the alcove on the hill to
the right, you fee a prodigious fine range
of fteep woods, hanging over broken rocks,
in a ftile peculiarly noble : At a diftance you
catch a fear of rock quite embofomed in a
thick wood : The river winds through the
valley beneath, and breaking into feveral

B 3 didina:

[ 6 ]
diftindl fheets of water, throw a beauti-
ful variety over this romantic fcene; it lofes
itfelf to the left under another fweep of
fine hanging woods : You look down upon
the ruined abbey, on the oppofite banks of
the river, in a hollow, beautifully pi(Slu-
refque. Above it, rifes in front a fine wav-
ing hill cut into inclofures ; and over all, an
extenfive diftant profpe<ft. Upon the whole,
the view is truly beautiful.

From hence, croffing a few inclofures to
come again into the ornamented grounds,
the path you enter winds on the brink of
a woody precipice, upon which you look
in a very romantic pleafing manner. It
leads down to the river (here a fmooth and
gentle current) through a wild rugged way,
and there brings you to another fhore of
pendent, craggy, broken rock, fringed with
wood, in a pidurefque manner : In one
place, almoil under the dairy, it bulges forth
in a vafi: projeding body, almoft threaten-
ing to thunder into the river, and obftrud:
every drop of its ftream. A noble fcene. — ^
The walk takes a winding courfe through
a thick wood, to the terras in front of the
houfe, from which the view is totally dif-
ferent from any of the preceding j it looks

down

[ 7 ]

down upon a deep winding valley, quite
filled with wood : A fine bending hollow —
The nolfc of the river at bottom raging
over the rocks is heard, but no where ieen;
nor can any thing be more romantic than
this effcd: : For looking down into the
hollow, without perceiving the water, the
imagination at once takes fire, and pid:ures
a horrible depth of precipice, far beyond
the truth J but in which it is fomewhat
aflifted, by the thicknefs of the wood break-
ing the line of found.

Upon the whole, Cocken has received
noble gifts from nature, and the afliftance
fhe has had from art has been the work of
an elegant fancy, condudted by as corredl
a tafte.

In the houfe are feveral pictures, which
pleafe the lovers of that noble art.

Trevtfana. Lot and his daughters. The
colouring is ftrong, and the ex-
prefiion fpirlted : Nor is it want-
ing in the effe(5t of the clear ob-
fcure.

Rape of Preferpme. The co-
louring not amifs.

Diafia and Kndymion, Good.
JB 4 Ads

[ 8 ]

Acls and Galatea, Expreffive
attitudes.

Fenus attiring. Happily de-
licate and expreflive ; the round-
nefs of the hmbs and the beauty
of the naked are ftriking : The
preflure of her hand on her bo-
fom is fine ; and his want of at-
tention charadteriftic oi fuch a
fituation. It is a copy from
Guido.

Bacchus and Ariadne, The
attitud:e is very well caught ; the
colouring, and the naked oi Arit
adnes body, are pleafing.

'Jupiter-, and 'Juno in the Cejlus
of Venus. Her attitude is ele-
gant, and the whole beautiful.

Hercules and Omphale. The
colours, naked, and attitude good.

Viviano, ArchlLccfture in perfpedlive, two
pieces. Very fine, brilliant, and
fpirited.

Trevifana. Portrait of the late Mr. Carr,
nobly iplrited.

[ 9 ]

Unknown. School-miflrefs in her fchool.
Fine exprefTion ; the girls and
boy are very well done ; the girl
reading and the other knitting
very natural. The miftrefs the
leafl: fpirited in the piece.

Ditto. An old man feeding his fa-
mily with cheftnuts. Very fine,
fpirited, and natural. The mi-
nute expreffion is ftrong : But
the diffufion of light appears to
be unnatural, to proceed from no
vifible fource.

jyitio. Two fruit pieces. Very fine.

Ditto. Two pieces of dead game*
Natural.

Ditto. Tv/o heads. Fine.

Ditto. Landfcape j a cavern. Fine
and brilliant.

Ditto. A philofopher reproving his
copyer. Very fine and natural j
the airs of the heads well pre-
ferved, and the hands excellently
done. A copy.

Ditto. Three fmall landfcapes. Good.

Ditto. A large landfcape ; rocks and
water. Very fine. The cattle

and

[ 1° ]

and figures excellent i — minute-
ly done.

Ditto. Ditto of rocks, with a ftrag-
gling branch with the light be-
hind it. Fine and fpirited.

Ditto, Three ditto in a dark ftile.
The light is well done, and much
Ipirit in the piece.

Ditto. One ditto, their companion.
Exceedingly fine. The perfpec-
tive and keeping flriking.

Ditto, Two ditto, fomething in the
ftile of Zuccarelli, Brilliant and
pleafing.

Ditto, A ditto, rocks, with a trunk
of a tree in water. The rocks
fine -y and the water excellent.

Ditto, Two ditto in round. The
cattle — the attitudes of the
figures — the architecfture and
the trees, all have merit.

Ditto, Large landfcape : It is in a
dark ftile, but good.

Sahator Rofa. A water fall. Spirited and
alive.

Another; rocks and wood.
Good J but does not appear to
me to equal the firft.

Pouffiti.

[ " ]

Foujjin. Large landfcape. In a fine but
gloomy ftile.

From Cocken to Newcaflle the land is in
general good, and lets very high. That
town is too famous in the path of trade to
require from me a particular defcription :
Many particulars, relative to its commerce,
I tried to get, but in vain ; fuch as I pro-
cured are inferted in a very fev7 words , but
I can anfwer for the genuinenefs only, in
receiving my intelligence from fenfible in-
habitants.

This town is fuppofed to contain 40,000
fouls, and to employ of its own, 500 fail
of ihips, 400 of which are colliers. The
corporation have an eftate of 13,500/. a
year, and allow their mayor 1200/. a
year *.

Thefe particulars will by no means fa-
tlsfy you — they are far from fatisfying my-
felf, but they are all I could procure. —
I wanted to be informed of the tonnage of
their iliipping, the number of fallors em-
ployed, the nature and extent of their fo-
reign trade, the degree of increafe or de-

* Sir IVaUer Blacktt, when he ferves that office, takes
nothing.

creafe,

I «2 ]

crcafe, and at what periods, with many
other circumftances. — I could infert, in
the common hackneyed ftyle, That New-
caftle is a place of very conjideralbe trade,
her 7}ier chants pojfejjing a very exterifive cor-
refpondencCi exporting thist that, and the
ether, and importing fuch andfuch commo"
dities, &c. &c. Thefe are the general ac-
counts we meet with in books of geogra-
phy, copied from one to another, till a
man of any reading is difgufted with the
impertinence. I may be trifling and ab--
furd, but I will never give you fuch pages
cf inanity as thefe.

The people employed in the coal-mines
are prodigioufly numerous, amounting to
many thoufands ; the earnings of the mea
are from ix. to 4^". a day, and their firing.
The coal waggon roads, from the pits to
the water, are great works, carried over
all forts of inequalities of ground, fo far as
the diftance of 9 or lo miles. The track
of the wheels are marked with pieces of
timber let into the road, for the wheels of
the waggons to run TDn, by which means
one horfe is enabled to draw, and that with
eafe, 50 or 60 bufhels of coals. There
are many o<:her branches of bufinefs that

have

[ 13 J

have much carriage in a regular track, that
greatly wants this improvement, which
tends fo confiderably to the lowering the
expences of carriage.

About five miles from Newcajile are the
iron works, late Crawley s, fuppofed to be
the greateft maniifadory of the kind in
Europe. Several hundred hands are em-
ployed in it, infomuch that 20,000/. a
year is paid in wages. They earn from is,
to 2s. 6d. ^ day ; and fome of the foremen
fo high as 200/. a year. The quantity of
iron they work up is very great, employ-
ing three (hips to the Baltic, that each
make ten voyages yearly, and bring 70
tons at a time, which amounts to 2100
tons, befides 500 tons more freighted
in others. They ufe a good deal of Ame-
rican iron, which is as good as any SwediJJj,
and for fome purpofes much better. They
would ufe more of it, if larger quantities
were to be had, but they cannot get it.
A circumftance the perfon did not fuffi-
ciently explain, but which, in the mere
outline, is worthy of remark.

They ufe annually 7000 bolls of coals,
at 16 bulhels each.

They

[Hi

They manufacture anchors as high as
70 cwt. carriages of cannon, hoes, ipades,
axes, hooks, chains, &c. &c.

In general their greateft work is for ex-
portation, and are employed very conlider-
ably by the Eaji India Company : They
have of late had a prodigious artillery de-
mand from that Company.

During the war their bufinefs was ex-
tremely great : It was worfe upon the
peace ; but for anchors and mooring
chains the demand thefe laft 7 or 8 years
has been very regular and fpirited. Their
bulinefs in general, for fome time paft, has
not been equal to what it was in the war.

As to the machines for accelerating feve-
ral operations in the manufadure, the cop-
per rollers for fqueezing bars into hoops,
and the fciflars for cutting bars of iron —
the turning cranes for moving anchors into
and out of the fire — the beating hammer,
lifted by the cogs of a wheel -, thefe are
machines of manifefl utility, fimple in their
conftrud:ion, and all moved by water.
But I cannot conceive the neceflity of their
executing fo much of the remaining work
by manual labour. I obferved eight ftout
fellows hammering an anchor in fpots,

which

[ '5 ]

which might evidently be flruck by a ham-
mer, or hammers, moved by water upon
a vafl anvil, the anchor to be moved with
the utmoft eafe and quicknefs, to vary the
feat of the flrokes. It is idle to objed: the
difficulty of raifing fuch a machine ; there
are no impoffibilities in mechanics : An
anchor of 20 tons may, undoubtedly, be
managed with as much eafe as a pin. In
other works beiides the anchor-making, I
thought I obferved a wafte of ftrength.

In the road from Newcajlle to the
works, upon rifing the firfl hill, there is a
moft noble view into an extenfive vale:
cultivated riling inclofures, furrounding a
prodigious fine water, (the river 'Ty?ie)
which has the appearance of a lake, feve-
ral miles long, and of a noble breadth. In
the middle a very fine ifland of an irregu-
lar oblong fhape, fcattered with trees :
The whole water enlivened with numerous
boats, failing to and from Newcajlle : The
river lofes itfelf at each end, under wav-
ing hills in a beautiful manner. Upon
the whole it has the appearance of one
of the fineft lakes in the world. — At
Neivcajik,

PRO-

t 16 ]
PROVISIONS.

BeflRye bread, per lb, -

- 1/

Worft ditto, 1 0 /b. for -

- 6

Butter, 20 oz.

- 9

Cheefe,

U

Beef, - . -

3

Mutton,

2i

Veal, - - - -

2

Milk, per pint,

1

Potatoes, per peck.

- 3

Coals, per chaldron, -

4J".

Poor's houfe-rent, from 20

to 40/.

Their firing, - -

30J.

Land around Neivcajl/e, letts, as may be
fuppofed, extravagantly, from 40 j. to 5/.
an acre.

As I enter the extenfive county o^ North-
irmberhmd to-morrow, you muft allow me
to make the agriculture of it the fubjed
of my next letter.

I remain, in the mean time, &c.

NewcdJIIe.

ET-

[ 17 ]

LETTER XIV.

A T Gofwortht in the road to Morpeth,

the foil is chiefly loamy — part fandy,

and but little clay -, the average rent is a-

bout 20 X. an acre; farms rife from 50/. a

year to 400 /. Their courfes are,

1. Fallov7

2. Wheat

3. Oats.

And,

Another,

Alfo,

1. Fallow

2. Maflin

3. Oats,

1. Fallow

2. Wheat

3. Beans.

1. Turneps

2. Barley

3. Oats.

For wheat they plough five times, fow
2 bufhels about Michaelmas, and reap, up-
on an average, 10 or 12 thrave, each

Vol. hi, C thrave

[ ,8 ]

thrave 2 ftooks, or 6 pecks, that is i6
bufhels and an half. For barley they plough
on ftubble three times, after turneps twice,
and on a fallow five times ; fow 2 bufhels
and [ in Aprily and reap 1 5 thraves, at 2
bufliels, or 30 bufhels. For oats they
give but one ploughing, fow 2 bolls and
a canning, or 4 bufhels and f , after barley,
and gain in produdl much the fame quan-
tity as of that grain *. They plough but
once for beans, fow them broad-caft, and
under furrow in February, never hoe;
the medium crop about 25 bufhels —They
are all fold for the colliery horfes. For
peafe, but one earth, fow in March, and
get from 16 to 20 bufhels. For rye they
fallow 3 or 4 times 5 but after barley
plough but once , fow 2 bufliels, and gain
in return 30. For turneps they ftir four
times ; hoeing is but coming in, for many
do not practice it at all. The medium value
per acre is, for the hoed ones, 4/. 4J. the
unhoed, 3/. an argument fo flrong for
hoeing, that one would imagine it fuffi-
cient to convince the blindell and mofl

* I have for once given the jargon of country
mcafures ; a vile abufe, that calls aloud for redrefs. —
You {hall be plagued \vitb thegi no more,

preju-

t '9 1

prejudiced of the cultivating tribe.— They

ufe them for both flieep and beafts.

They fow a Httle rape on new land :
Paring and burning, and one ploughing, is
the preparation — never feed it : The ave-
rage crop of feed half a laft»

No clover ufed.

They cultivate a few tares for the feed-
ing horfes. Likewife a little buckwheat,
but it is not reckoned profitable.

Potatoes they plant after two or three
ploughings : Slice them into fetts. Twelve
bufliels will plant an acre, at one foot fquare.
They hand-hoe them twice, and hand-
weed them occafionally. The crops are
ufually worth from 7 /, to 10/, at (^d, a
buOiel. Wheat or rye fucceeds ; of which
they have finer crops than common.

As to manuring, that of paring and
burning is one important point i the ex~
pence,

s, iL
The paring - - 9 6
Burning - - -.26

12 o

C 2 They

[ 20 ]

They never fold their flieep, nor chop
their ftubbles ; but their hay they flack at
home. Dung they buy at Newcajile, from
I /. to 2 J-, for a tvvo-horfe cart load.

Good grafs will let for 30/. an acre.
They apply it both to dairying and fatting :
Three acres will keep two cows through
the fummer, and one acre three or four
fheep. They manure it carefully. The
breed of cattle fhort horned, which they
prefer.

The produdl of a cow they reckon at 5/.
a good one will give five gallons of milk
per day : — They keep but few fwine, and
not the more for tlieir cows. The winter
food of the latter hay and ftraw, of the firfl
two ton ; keep them in the houfe : Their
calves fuck five weeks for fatting, and fix
for rearing, and afterwards are fed with bean
meal and milk. They reckon fix or eight
cows the proper number for a dairy-maid

to manage.

Their fwine they fat to 24 ftone.

Their flocks of fheep rife from 40 to
80. The profit they reckon at 15^. a
head. They feed them in winter and
fpring on grafs — fome turneps — and when
pinched for feed turn theni into their

wheat

[ 21 ]

wheat and rye. 5 lb, the average of
fleeces.

They reckon eight horfes necelTary for
the cultivation of 100 acres of arable land,
ufe three in a plough, and do an acre a
day. When at work in winter they allow
their horfes a peck of oats ^tr day j and
reckon the annual expence at 7 /. They
plough up their flubbles for a fallow at
Chrijlmas, The price per acre of plough-
ing 5 s. The depth five inches. They
know nothing of chopping ftraw for chaff.
The hire of a cart and three horfes a day
is 5/,

In the hiring and flocking of farms,
they reckon ;^oo/. requifite for one of
100/. a year.

Land fells at 28 or 30 years purchafe :
There are fome eflates fo low as 2 or
300/. a year.

Tythes are generally compounded 5
Wheat, 8 J. 6^.
Barley, 4J-. 6^.
Oats, 4 J".
Beans, 6x.
Poor rates 2^. in the pound. Their em-
ployment fpinning wool and flax. But few
drink te^.

C 3 The

[ " ]

The farmers carry their corn 3 miles.
The general ceconomy will be (tQn from
the following fketches.
300 acres in all
ICO arable
200 grafs
^.300 rent
14 horfes
1 2 cows
20 beafts
1 2 young cattle
40 fheep
I man
3 boys
3 maids
8 labourers
3 ploughs
6 carts
No waggons.
Another,

450 acres
200 arable in all
250 grafs
^.420 rent
27 horfes
30 cows
25 beafts
30 young cattle

90 flieep

[ 23

90 flieep

2 men

3 boys

lo labourers

5 ploughs

lo carts.

Another,

1 8o acres in all

8o arable

100 grafs

£.140 rent

8 horfes

7 cows

7 beafts

20 young cattle

30 flieep

I man

I boy

2 maids

I labourer

2 ploughs

4 carts.

Another,

100 acres in all

60 arable

40 grafs

£. 90 rent

6 horfes

C 4

4 cows

[ 24 3

4 cows

8 young cattle
20 fheep
I man
I maid
I labourer
I plough
3 carts.

LABOUR.

In harveft, is, 6d, and ale.
In hay time, 2 j. and ditto.
In winter, i /.

Mowing grafs, 2 s, and 4 /. 6 </.
Hoeing turnips, 6 J. and 4 j.
Ditching, &c. i j. zd, a rood.
Thraihing wheat, 2| ^. a bulhcl.

. . Barley, il d,

I Oats, il d.

Headman's wages, 12/.
Next ditto, 8 /. or 9 /.
Boy of 10 or 12 years, 3 /.
Pairy maids, 4/.
Other ditto, 3/. 10/.
Women per day in harveft, 10 ^. and I s.
In hay time, 6 d.
In winter, 6 ^.

I M P L E;-

f 25 J

IMPLEMENTS.

A cart, 6/. 6 j. or 7 /.

A plough, I /. I J".

A harrow, 15^.

A roller 4 /. or 5 /. for grafs, but none for

barley.
A fcythe, 3 j.
A Ipade, 3 j. 6d.
Laying a fhare and coulter, i j.
Shoeing, is, ^d.

PROVISIONS.

The fame as at Newcaftle.

About Morpeth the foil is a loamy clay %
letts from 5 j. to 20 j. /^r acre j average
about 12 J. Farms rife from 30/. to 500/.
a year. Their courfes,

1. Fallow

2. Wheat

3. Oats

4. Oats.
And

1. Fallow

2. Wheal

3. Beans

4. Oats.

Alfo

[ 26 ]

Alfo . '

1. Turneps

2. Barley

3. Oats

4. Oats.

For wheat they plough four times, fow
2 1 bufhels between Michaelmas and Mar-
tinmaSf and reap, upon an average, 14.
For barley they give three ftirrings, but
five on a fallow, low 2 bufhels about the
end of March, or beginning of April, and
gain in return 20 bufhels. They flir but
once for oats, fow 5 bufhels before barley
fowing, and gain 30 in return. One
ploughing is alfo the number for beans ;
of which they fow 3 bufhels broad caft —
never hoe — the medium crop 28: Ufe
them chiefly for horfes. For peafe they
likewife plough but once, fow 2 bufhels,
and gain about 14. They give four flir-
rings for rye, fow 2 bufhels, and gain,
upon a medium, 20.

For turneps they plough four times^ all
hoe twice or thrice -, and the medium va-
lue per acre is 3 /. ufe them for cattle and
Iheep. Clover they fow with both barley
and wheat j mow it for hay and get from
1 1 to 2 ton per acre, and fow oats after it.

Potatoes

[ 27 ]

Potatoes they prepare for by digging:
the planters give 5/. per acre rent for the
land they fet them on : It is generally a
ftubble, dunged at the rate of 25 loads
per acre, 32 bulhels each. They dibble
them in at i foot fquare; 23 bufhels plant
an acre j hand-hoe them three times, at
the expence of 2j. 6d. a time : The crop
is from 2 50 to 400 bufhels. The digging
the ground, and digging up the crop, cofts
5 /. The price commonly i i". a bulhel.

The account, therefore, ftands thus, per
acre—

E X P E N C E S.

Rent, - . - ^

5

0

0

Labour, manuring, can-^

not be lefs than the

day's work of 4 horfes.

10

0

3 men, and 2 carts, or^

Setts, - .. -

I

3

0

Pibling, - - -

0

5

0

Pigging and taking up,

5

0

0

Hand-hoeing thrice.

0

7

6

12

5

6

PRO-

[ 28 ]

PRODUCE.

350 builiels, at I/. - 1710 o
Expences, - - 12 5 6

Profit, - - - 546

But the profit of fiich thorough tillage
is, perhaps, as confiderable as this bal-
lance. They ibw barley afterwards, of
which they get very great crops.

As to the management of manure, it may
partly be judged from their flacking their
hay both in the field and farm yard — and
from their never chopping their ftubbles.

Paring and burning v^^as once ufed, but
k is now^ done with.

They lime much, lay 70 bufliels per
acre, befides a dunging at the fame time ;
it coflis 7 J. befides the leading; they rec-
kon they could not raife corn without it.

Very good grafs land will lett at 20s.
an acre : They apply it moftly to fatting.
An acre and a half they reckon fufficient
for carrying a beaft, of 100 fione, through
the fummer, or to maintain feven or eight
ilieep.-— Their breed of cattle is the {hort
horned, which they reckon much the heft.

The

[ 29 i

The produdl of a cow they lay at 5/. but
on land of 20s. an acre, they fuppofe it
may amount to 9 or i o /. A good one will
give 9 gallons of milk per day. Ten will
maintain 5 or 6 fwine. Their winter
food is hay and ftraw. The calves do not
fuck at all, being brought up by hand,
about 6 weeks, for either killing or rear-
ing. A dairy-maid, they reckon, can
take care of 6 cows ; — ■ and a ton and a
half of hay is the quantity they allow for
wintering one cow. The joift, through the
year, 3/. ioj. They are kept in winter
in the houfe.

Their fwine they fat up to 20 and 30
ilone.

The profit on fatting an ox in grafs, of
1 00 ftone, they reckon, at a medium, 5 /.

Their flocks of fheep rife from 30 to
100 J the profit on them they reckon at
IOJ-. a fheep. In winter they keep them
in grafs ; and in very bad weather
give them hay ; in j4pn7 they turn them
into their young clover: The average of
their fleeces, is- 3 3.

In the tillage of their farms, they rec-
kon that 6 horfes arc necefl"ary for the
culture of 100 acres of arable land. They

ufe

[ 3° ]

Ule either 3 horfes in a plough, or 2 hor-
ies ?.nd 2 oxen ; with the firft, they do an
acre and half a day, and with the fecond,
not above half an acre ; but then the laft
is the ftrongeft of all their work. — Their
allowance of oats to their teams, is two
builiels per horfe, per week. The annual
expence of keeping a horfe, they reckon
8/. They feed their working oxen on
draw and hay, in winter, and work on
ftraw alone. The common time for break-
ing up flubbles for a fallow, is March,
but fome do it in November. The price of
ploughing, is 5J-. td. — The depth 4 or 5
inches. The hire of a cart, three horfes
and driver, 3^. td.

In the hiring and ftocking farms, they
reckon 450/. necelTary for one of 100/,
a year.

Land fells at 32 years purchafe. Eftates
rife from 100 /. upwards.

Tythes are both gathered and com-
pounded ', when the latter, 2x. bd. an acre
for turneps, and 7/. for wheat, barley,
and oats, are common prices.

Poor rates, 6 d. in the pound. The
employment of the poor, begging and
ftroUing : All drink tea.

The

t 3' ]

The farmers carry their corn fix miles.
The general ceconomy will be beft feen,
from the following fketches :

130 acres in all
80 arable
50 grafs
jT. 60 rent

7 horfes

4 oxen

4 cows
20 fheep
1 2 young cattle

3 men

I boy

1 maid

2 plougl>s
2 carts.

Another,

300 acres in all
160 arable
140 grafs
£, 1 60 rent

12 horles

20 cows

10 fatting beads

30 young cattle

50 fheep

2 bovs

[ 32 ]

2 boys
2 maids

2 labourers

4 ploughs
6 carts.

Another,

200 acres in all

100 arable

£.90 rent
8 horfes

10 cows

5 fatting beafts
30 fheep
1 0 young cattle

I man

I boy
I maid

I labourer

2 ploughs

4 carts.

LABOUR.

Inharveft, is. and board.

In hay time, i /. 6 ^. and beer.

In winter, 10^.

Mowiog grafs, is. 6d.
Hoeing turneps, 2s, 6d.
Ditching, is, 2d. a rood.

AU

[ 33 ]

All thrafhing done for the 2ift part.

Head man's wages, 1 1 /.

Next ditto, 7/.

A boy of 12 years, 3/.

A dairy maid, 3 /. 10 s.

Other ditto, 3/.

Women per day In harveft, 9 d. and beer.

In hay time, 6d,

IMPLEMENTS.

No waggons.

A cart, 7 /.

A plough, 2o.f.

A harrow, 15/.

A roller, i /. 5 j.

A fey the, 2 s. 6d,

A fpade, 33-. td.

Laying a fliare and coulter, 4^. and find

iron, IJ-. without.
Shoeing, is. ^d.

PROVISIONS.

Bread — rye, or wheat and peafe, or bar-
ley and peafe.
Cheefe, id.
Butter, 8 ^. 16 oz.
Beef, 3 d.
Mutton, 3 d.
Vol. III. D Veal,

[ 34 ]

Veal, 3 d.

Pork, 4 d.

Milk, 3 pints of Ikim for |i£

Potatoes, 3 d^. a peck.

Candles, 7 ^.

Soap, 7 «/.

Labourer's houferent, 10/.

Their firing, \qs,

BUILDING.

Oak timber, 2 x.
Afli, I J. 4^.

A mafon per day, u- and board*
A carpenter, u. and ditto.
Farm houfes of brick and ftone.

From Morpeth to Alnwick, land lets at
an average at 1 2 i. and farms are in general
from 40 /. to 200 /. a year. Wheat crops-
20 bulhels, barley 30, and oats 36. The
foil about Alnwick is in general either a
light loam, or a gravel, and letts about
35 J-. an acre. Farms from 100/. to 800 L
a year. The courfes moil ia ufe ai'e^

1. Turneps-

2. Barley
, 3.. Oats

4. Oats*

Ami,

[ 35 ]

And,'

1. Fallow

2. Wheat

3. Beans or peafe

4. Oats

5. Oats.

which are both bad, but the laft exe-
crable. They plough for wheat three or
four times, fow 2 bufhels in OSiober, and
reap, on an average, 20 bufhels. For bar-
ley they ftir twice or thrice, fow 2 bu-
fhels in April, and gain, at a medium, 40
bufhels. They plough but once for oats,
fow 6 bufhels, after barley, and reckon the
middling crop at 40. For beans but once,
on pared and burnt land fow 5 bufhels,
and get from 40 to 50. They fow but
few peafe ; the method is, one ploughing,
fow 3 bufhels, and the crop 20. For rye
they plough three or four times, fow 2
bufhels ; the crop the fame as of peafe.
They plough as often for turneps, hoe
twice, and reckon the value per acre from
2 /. I o J. to 5 /. I o J. They feed them off
with beafts and fheep. They ufe no clover,
but fow a few tares to make into hay for
their horfes. They cultivate potatoes both
by digging, and ploughing, and dunging;
D 2 if

[ 36 ]

if the latter, it is three times : They flicc
and drop them into the furrow, fo as to
Hand in rows 12 inches afunder; 35 pecks
will plant an acre ; the crop is generally
worth I o /. or I 2 /. at I J. 6 ^. a bufhel.

For raifing manure, they have no idea of
chopping the flubbles, but ftack their hay
at home, confequently make much more
than in places where it is flacked in the
fields. They lime a great deal, lay 8 or
12 bolls on an acre, at 2 bufhels each.

Good grafs lefts at 2/. an acre; they
ufe it chiefly for cows ; an acre will fum-
mer one, or three flieep. Their breed of
cattle is the fhort horned, and will fat up
to 60 or 80 ftone.

Their fwine fat from 12 to 20 ilone.

The produ(ft of a cow they reckon at 7/.
in good grafs j do not keep above a fow to
ten. The winter food, hay, if acre in
quantity, and ftraw ; kept in houfe. Calves
do not fuck above three days.

In the tillage of their lands, they reckon
4 horfes will do for 100 acres of arable
land ; ufe 2 in a plough, and do an acre
and half a day ; allow them half a peck of
oats a day, and reckon the annual expence
of keepmg, cfc. at 8/. per head. The

time

t 37 ]

time of breaking up their flubbles for a
fallow, is after barley fowing. The price
of ploughing, 3 J. per acre, and the depth
4 inches. — The hire of a cart, 3 horfes
and driver, 5^. a day.

They reckon 300 /. neceflary for the
hiring and flocking a farm of 100/. a
year.

Land fells at 30 years purchafe.

Tythes are both gathered and com-
pounded.

Poor rates 6d. in the pound ; their em-
ployment /pinning,

LABOUR,

In harveft, i j-. 3 ^. and i j-. 6 d, a day.

In hay-time, ditto.

In winter, 10 d.

Mowing grafs, is. 6d,

Hoeing turneps, ^s. twice.

For threfhing, they have the 19th of ill

grain.
Head man's wages, 9 /.
Next ditto, 6 /,
Boy of 1 2 years, 3 /,
Maids, 3 /. to 5 /.

Women per day, in harveil, is, 2d.
In hay-time, 6 d.

D 3 I MPLE-

[ 38 ]

IMPLEMENTS.

No waggons.

A cart, - ^ Jl 7 ^^ ^

A plough, - - - I I o

A harrow, - - i i o

A roller, - - -500

A fcythe, - - 030

A fpade, - -030

Laying a {hare, - -006

coulter - -006

PROVISIONS.

Bread — Barley and peafe
Cheefe, peril. - - 2|i

Butter, 16 oz, - - 6

Beef, - - - - 2i

Mutton, - - - zl

Veal, - . - - 2
Pork, - - - 3

New milk, per pint, - - i
Candles, - - "7

Soap, - - - ^

Labourer's houfe-rent, - 20s,

firing, - - 20 J.

I ■■ tools, - ' gs,

Down

[ 39 ]

Down by the fea are many rich, grazing
farms for oxen and (heep, up to fo high as
looo/. a year.

The caftle of Alnwick, the feat of his
Grace the Duke of Northumberland, is
mofl of k new built by the prefent Duke,
and not yet finiflied : The apartments are
all fitted up in the Gothic tafte, and orna-
mented in a very Hght and elegant ftile.
The principal ones are, i. A breakfall-
room, 33 by 21. 2. Dining-room, ^^
hy 2.2', it has two bow-windows, but ir-
regular, the Gothic work very elegant :
Over the chimney, the Duchefs, by Rey-
noldi. 3. A drawing-room. 4. A li-
brary, 65 by 22, and at the end, a cha-
peL 5. A faloon, 40 by 20, and a bow.
The architecture of the new buildings is
quite in the caftle ftile, and very light and
pleailng.

From Alnwick to Belford land letts at
lis. an acre; and farms rife from 40/. to
700 /. a year, but generally between 100 /.
to 200 /. The wheat crops, at an average,
20 bufhels per acre, barley 36, and oats
the fame.

About Belford there are many variations

from the preceding management, which

D 4 highly

[ 40 ]
highly deferve attention. The foil is in
general a loam, inclinable to a clay ; good
v/heat land letts, in large farms, at lis.
an acre, but in fmall ones, near the town,
at 20 T. Farms rife from 100/. a year, to
500/. many of 300/. 350/. and 400/,
The courfes,

1. Fallow

2. Wheat

3. Peafe.
Alfo,

1. Turneps

2. Barley

3. Oats

4. Barley,

For wheat they plough four or five tlrpeSj,
fow 3 bufliels in Novejnber, and gain upon
an average about 21. For barley they
plough three times, but only twice after
turneps, fow 4 bufhels, about the 20th of
Miiyj and reckon the medium produce at 5
quarters. They ftir but once for oats, fow 6
buihels, before barley feed time, and gain in
return 48. For beans they plough twice,
ibw 6 bufhels, broad caft, the beginning of
March, never hoe, but get 60 bufhels in
return ; fell them for exportation. They
give but one ftirring for peafe, fow 4

bufhels

[ 4' ]

bufliels the beginning oi March, and gain
from none at all to 50 bufliels.

For turneps they plough four times, hoc
twice, fetting them out ten inches or a foot
afunder, and value them, at a medium, at
45 J-. ufe them for fatting (heep and beads,
and rearing calves and young flieep. Tares
they fow after wheat, on two ploughing?,
generally for hay, of which they get about
2 tons per acre.

Potatoes they plough for thrice : Slice
them for fetts, drop them in the furrows,
fo as to lay 1 4 inches fquare j hand-hoe
them twice with a hoe 7 inches wide ;
6 bufliels plant an acre : Some years
they do not get above 24 bufliels, but in
others 60. They fow barley after them.

In the management of the manure in the
farm-yard they have merit, for they fl:ack
all their hay at home ; and keep their cat-
tle in houfes, littered down clean. But
they know nothing of chopping the fl:ub-
bles for littering a farm-yard. Nor do they
fold their flieep, although their flocks rife
to 1000. — Paring and burning is known,
but is going out.

Good grafs land will let at 20/. an acre.
They apply it to all ufes : An acre will

keep

[ 42 ]

keep a cow through the fummer, or five
flieep ; but they never manure it.

Their breed of cattle is the fhort horned,
but apprehend the long to be beft, and are
accordingly getting into them. They fat
their oxen up to 150 ftone weight, and
reckon 4/. 4^. the profit on one of 80
flone. Their fwine to 25.

Four pounds they reckon the produce of
a cow, and a good one to give fix gallons
of milk a day : A dairy of eight, will ena-
ble the farmer to keep nine or ten fwine.
They give them hay in winter while milk-
ed, and ftraw when dry ; keep them in
the houfe, and allow each a ton andshalf
of hay. The calves do not fuck at all,
but are brought up by hand ; four months
for rearing, and two for killing. One
maid will, with help, take care of ten cows.
Their flocks of fheep rife from 100 to
600 } and the profit they reckon on buying
to fat as follows :

Lamb, - - - - o 8/. o
Wool, ----.02 o
Improvement of ewe, 040

o 14 o

On

[ 43 ]

On ftock Iheep they calculate it.

Lamb, - - - - o 6s. o
Wool, - - - - o I 8

8

In very hard weather they give them fomc
hay, but their general winter keeping is on
the fheep walks. The fleeces are from
3 /^. to 5 //^. the firft at ^^. I, and the fe-
cond at g d. \.

In the tillage of their lands, they reckon
8 oxen and 6 horfes neceflary for loo acres
of arable land j they ufe either 2 oxen and
2 horfes in a plough, or two horfes alone ;
with the firft they do half an acre a day,
and with the laft an acre and half; but
then the firft is ufcd in the ftrong work,
and goes much the deeper. They allow
their horfes the third of a bufhel of oats
each in winter per week, but none in fum-
mer ; and reckon the annual expence per
horfe to be 5/. js. They give them no hay,
only pea ftraw. Their draught oxen they
feed in winter on ftraw and coarfe hay, but
work them on the firft alone. They
reckon oxen much the beft on ftrong lands,
ploughing much fteadier and deeper. They
break up their ftubbles for a fallow in au^

tumn.

[ 44 ]

tumn. The price of ploughing is 6 s. per
acre, and the depth 5 to 7 inches. They
know nothing of chopping ftraw for chaff.

The hire of a cart, 3 horfes, and a driver
per day, is 5 j.

They reckon, that a man fhould have
1 200/. for the flocking a farm of 300 /. a
year.

Land fells in general at 30 years pur-
chafe.

Tythes are both gathered and com-
pounded : If the latter.

Wheat pays - - 6 j.

Barley, " * 5

Oats, -^ - 36^.

Beans, - "3

Peafe, - "3

Poor rates, jld. in the pound. Their
employment, beiides idlenefs, is a little
ipinning. Very few drink tea.

There are fome few eftates fb low as
100 /. a jfcar, and to 300 /.

The farmers carry their corn 4 miles.

The general oeconomy will be {t^^ from
the following particulars of farms :
400 acres in all
350 arable
50 grafs

L 32®

t 45 3

^.320 rent
12 horfes
16 oxen
8 cows
20 young cattle
300 fheep
2 men
4 boys
2 maids
6 labourers
4 ploughs
6 carts.
Another,

700 acres in all
400 arable
300 grafs
jT. 300 rent
16 horfes
20 oxen
10 cows
12 fatting beafts
30 young cattle
500 (heep
3 men

2 boys

3 maids
10 labourers

6 ploughs
(S carts.

Another,

[ 46 ]

Another,

200 acres, all arable
jT. loo rent
6 horfes

2 oxen
1 6 cows

i6 young cattle
6o fheep
I man

1 boy

3 maids

2 labourers
2 ploughs

2 carts.
Another,

1 1 oo acres in all
700 arable
400 grafs
^,700 rent

22 horfes

30 oxen

35 cows

60 young cattle

20 fatting beafts
600 Iheep

3 men

4 boys

5 maids

i6 labourers

[ 47 ]

i6 labourers
10 ploughs
10 carts.
Another,

360 acres in all
200 arable
160 grafs
^.250 rent
8 horfes
4 oxen
10 cows
3 fatting beads
1 6 young cattle
50 fheep

1 man

2 boys

2 maids

3 labourers
3 ploughs
3 carts.

LABOUR.

In harveft, i j.

In hay time, i s.

In winter, 10 tl.

Mowing grafs, 2x. 6d,

Hoeing turneps, from 2 s. 6d. to 4/,

Thrafhing, the 20th of all grain.

Head

I 4M

Head man's wages 9 L

Next ditto, J l- 7 s.

Boy of 15 years, 5 /.

Maids 3 /. 3 -f .

Women per day in harvcft, i s.

In hay time 6 d. ufed to be but ^d.

In winter, 4^.

IMPLEMENTS.

No waggons.

A cart, 7 /. I o i".

A wain, 7 /. 1 o J-.

A plough, I /. 1 5 J-.

A harrow, i /. 5 j.

A roller, 4/. of wood.

A fcythe, 5 x.

A fpade, 2. s. S d.

The black-fmith fhoes all the horfes,
repairs the plough irons, and all the
cart ditto, for i /. is, per horfe, pet
annutni.

Shoeing, 2 s.

PROVISIONS.

Bread — barley and peafe.
Cheefe, per lb, - - 3 ^.
Butter, 18 cz. - - 6

Beef,

[ 49 ]

Beef, ----- 3^. I

Mutton, - - - - 2 1

Veal, - - - - 2

Milk, new, a pint, - i

, fkim, 3 pints, - I '

Potatoes, - - - 2J. abufhel.

Candles, _ _ _ ^;/. |

Soap, ----- 6 ^.

Labourer's houfe rent, 2gs. '

' firing, - - 2 4 J.

Their tools the farmer finds.

BUILDING.

Bricks, per looo, los.

Tiles, - - - 40

Oak timber, - - 2 per foot.

Afli, - . - I

Elm, - - - I

A mafon per day, - 1 6d.

A carpenter, - - i 6

A thatcher, ---14

Stone walling, dry, that is, without

mortar, 4^. a fquare yard cutting and

laying, and 10 d. leading.
In mortar, 5 f feet high and a yard

fquare, cutting and laying 7 ^. lime,

fand, and leading 2 j-.
Farm houfes of ftone, and flate or pantile.
Vol. III. E In

[so ]

In the parifli of Belford arc
10,600 acres in all
3,300 of ditto moors
400 wood
200 bogs
20 farms, and 600 acres in little

parcels
180 labourers

20 men fervants
200 horfes (by 20 farmers)
150 oxen
4000 (heep

40 fatting beads
6d. in the pound rates
X- 3'300 rent.

The town of Belford, which is a pretty,
well fituated place, belongs entirely td
Abraham Dkkfon, Efq; That Gentleman's
father procured a market and two fairs to
be eftablifhed at it ; but the fpirited con-
du(fk of the prefent owner is what has
brought it to the condition, fo flourifli-
ing to what it formerly was ; thirteen years
ago it did not contain above 100 fouls, but
they now amount to above fix times that
number : And this increafe has been owing
to the excellent means of introducing an

induflry

t 5' ]

induftry unknown to former times. Mr.
Dick/on has eftablifhed a woollen manu-
facture, which already employs 16 looms,
and the fpinning bufinefs goes on fufhci-
cntly to keep them at work -, A noble ac-
quifition in a place where a fpinning-wheel
was not to be feen a few years ago. Ano-
ther eftablifliment of very great importance,
was that of a tannery. The neareft tanners
were thofe at Berwick and Alnwick : This
was an inconvenience and a difadvantagc to
the neighbourhood ; therefore Mr. Dick^
Jon, at the expence of 700 /. fixed a tan*
nery, which now turns out to good account,
and is a peculiar benefit to the neighbour-
hood.

The fituatlon of Be/ford, half way be-
tween Alnwick and Berwick, at the dif-
tance of 30 miles, was very advantageous
for fixing a good inn, with poft-chaifes and
accommodations for travellers. This, like-
wife, was executed, and is now found of
peculiar ufe to all travellers, and of benefit
to the town.

But as a town without good roads to
and from it is of courfe but in a paltry con-
dition, Mr. Dick/on applied himfelf with
great fpirit to rendering the road to Bel-
E 2 ford.

[ :S2 ]

ford, north and fouth, as good as polTible j
this he efFedted as far as his influence ex-
tended, and would not have left a mile of
badlroad in the whole country, had others
been as folicitous as himfelf about fo im-
portant an objed:.

Coals had formerly been raifed around
Belford, but the pits exhaufted, and the
undertaking difcontinued for many years.
The common report which this adive
Gentleman heard on all fides was, that no
more coal was advan-tageoufly to be had ;
but common report was not fufficient for
him ; he tried in feveral places, and was
fortunate enough to find a very beneficial
feam, which has been fince worked to no-
ble advantage, both to the town and the
proprietor.

Difcovering of coal, led to the burning
of lime for the purpofes of agriculture, as
a manure, in a much larger way than had
been ufual ; and for this work three new
lime-kilns were eredted, in a mofi: fubftan-
tial manner, and at a large expence.

This fpirited Gentleman meditates yet
greater works : He propofes to eftablilh fuch
manufadures, as may employ all the poor of
the country. He defigns to build a coal

road

[ 53 ]

road from his pits to the town, and he
conceives fome hopes of making Belford a
port, though at two or three miles diftance
from the fea 5 tliis will be of glorious ad-
vantage to the town, and open markets for
his coals at prefent unthought of. In a
word, this ad:ive genius is daring and com-
prehenfive in his ideas, penetrating and
fpirited in the execution.

At the fame time that he has cfFedled
thefe noble works, he has not been idle in
other refpeds. He has built a very hand-
fome manfion-houfe for his own refidence,
raifed numerous plantations, and erecfted
feven new farm-houfes, with all the ne-
ceffary offices, the whole fubftantially of
brick and tile. ^ ■

In the walk of hufbandry he has tried
fome experiments, which deferve atten-
tion : Much of his land is fo wet as
to require draining ; his method of doing
which is as follows ; While the field is in
tillage, he marks out the low places, where
the water lodges, with fticks, and then,
with a plough, throws the land from the
low fpace \ by beginning at a certain
diftance, 5 or 6 yards for inftance from the
bottom of it, and continually turning the
E 3 furrows

[ 54 ]

furrows from it, until the plough finiflict
in the middle, and confequently leaves an
open furrow there; by which means a
drain is made for the water, which carries
it off with a little opening by fpades:—
And afterwards laying the field down to
grafs, the land has a fall that keeps it dry. —
This method he follows, let the inequality
of the furface be what it may ; for if in
any place the land lies in a round, an ob-
long, or a ferpentine form, the plough
moves according to the wave of the land,
and always leaves a furrow in the loweft
part.

This method of draining muft certainly
be mod effectual in land fo retentive of
water as to hold it on the fide even of
an open drain; and when, confequently,
the furface mufl: have a fall to carry it off.

In the laying down to grafs, Mr. Dick"
fort is likewife very attentive to have it
done in a neat and mafterly manner. Of
hay feeds he fows 6 bufhels per acre, and
%lb. oi Dutch clover, and alfo about a tenth
of the whole of parfley, for the fake of his
iheep. In 1759, four acres were ploughed
and fown, half with buck wheat and half
with peafe, both were ploughed in when in

bloffomji

[ JJ ]

bloflbm, and winter fallowed after, and in
the fpring fown with grafles alone; five acres
adjoining were fown alfo among barley,
and another five, without either corn or
manure: The refult of this experiment,
which was very well imagined, was this,
that, from the firft year to the prefent
time, no kind of difference has been per-
ceived. That, however, which was fown
alone, would, without attention, have
proved the worft; for the chick-weed
came fo ftrongly, that it threatened to de-
ftroy all the graffes j but a dairy of cows
being turned in, they eat it up, by which
means the graffes rofe freely. As that
part fown alone, in this experiment, was
no better than the other, it is certainly
fo far conclufive againft fowing alone, as a
crop of corn is thereby loft, without gain-
ing any thing in return.

Cabbages this Gentleman has alfo tried,
and with great fuccefs. In 1766 he had
an acre and half on a cold, wet, clay foil :
It was well dunged, and ploughed twice :
Turncps the preceding crop. The cab-
bage feed was fown the beginning of An-
guji the year before, and the plants fet
out of the bed diredtly into the field, which
E 4 opera-

[56 ]

operation was performed from the middle
of March "to the beginning of April. The
rows were three feet afunder, and two feet
from plant to plant, horfe-hoed and hand-
hoed as the weeds arofe. This crop turned
out but fmall in fize, but was of excellent
ufe for feeding the cows -, they were giveri
with fome hay t(5 the milch ones, the leaves
Gripped off. The butter and milk both
exceedingly good, and finely flavoured.

In 1767, the fame field was again plants
ed with them ; the management, in all
refpeds, as before ; the crop little better j
but applied to the fame ufe, and with
equal fuccefs.

In 1768 four acres were planted, after
oats; the foil, a rich loamy clay: The
ilubble was ploughed in, and then the
field dunged; after which it was plough-?
ed twice more, and planted, as in the
other experiments. Part of the feed
was fown before winter, and part in the
fpring : The cabbages from the former
proved much the largefl. Many weighed
30, 31, 32, and 33 : lb, the average about
i'-^ lb. a cabbage.

Mr. Dickjon, upon the whole, com-
mends greatly the culture of this moil ufe-

[ 57 ]
fill vegetable, for the feeding of milch
cows : He is determined to continue the
Cultivation of them for that purpofe, hav-
ing found them fo peculiarly convenient^
that a lofs of cabbages would, in a great
meafure, be a lofs of the winter's milk.

This Gentleman is alfo particularly
attentive to the management of his
fences : His favourite hedge is the hollyj
he fows the feed in beds, and trans-
plants them into rows for hedges ; I inea-
fured fome, that grew upon a moift foil,
fix feet high, in fix years growth : It is
indubitably the firfl of all fences, grows
very thick, clofe to the ground, and is of
fo ftubborn, prickly a nature, as to be im-r
penetrable by man or beafl.

White thorns he tranfplants at fix feet
high, and finds them to anfwer very well.

Upon the whole, Mr. Dickfoji has pro-
ved, by the noble and fpirited manner
in which he has not only increafed the
number of people on his eflate, but
advanced their interefls; and by the
fenfible attention he has given to agri-
culture, that the nation at large, as
>vdl as this neighbourhood in particular,

are

f 58 ]

arc greatly indebted to him for his judicioui
coiidudt in all matters of rural oeconomics.

Mr. Clarke, of Belford, (one of Mr.
Dickfons tenants,) is very famous in the
North for his knowledge of mechanics.
Among other inftances of his (kill in this
branch, his invention of a draining plough,
which obtained a premium of 5 o/. from
the Society, is one, which has made his
name publick in other parts of the king-
dom, befides his own neighbourhood.

But the grand machine upon which he
moft builds his reputation, is that of one
for the threihing of corn : How far it will
anfwer has not been tried, becaufe the
machine will not be produced until a fub-
fcription is filled *.

* The following are his propofals to the public:
They certainly merit attention.

Proposals yir making by fubfcription, complete Machines
for Threjhing CoRN,
To the ¥ V B L J C,
O r all the operations of the laudable profeflion of
the hufbandman, it is prefumed none are performed lefs
to his fatisfa£l^ion and emolument, none more detri-
mental to the public, and more oppreflive to the poor
labourer, than that of thrcfhing corn. The difficulty
of finding people difpofed to undertake this drudgery,
the large expence, and unavoidable wafte that attends
the prefent method of thrcfhing corn j and the difap-
pointments that are met with by not having grain ready

in

[ 59 ]

Mr. C/arkes method of cultivating tur-
ncps, is peculiar: He fows them broad

in due time for feed, and other occafions, are lofies and
cmbarrafTments that the moft circumfpe6t farmers hi-
therto have not been able to prevent ; and as corn is not
marketable until it is threflicd, the public have un-
doubtedly felt fome of the cfFedts of fcarcity on that
account. The threfliers themfelves, although near a
twentieth of all they threfti is allowed them for their
labour, are in general fo overwhelmed v/ith poverty
anddiftrefs of body, that they are of all the honeft la-
bourers in the country the moft miferable : Thefefadts,
taken together, inconteftibly prove, beyond the force of
cuftom, ignorance, and malice, that the prefent method
of doing this necelTary work, is not only prejudicial to
individuals, but alfo a very great public grievance. And
that therefore any contrivance, which would render
the labour tolerable, and put it in the power of all oc-
cupiers of corn farms to have their corn feparated from
the ftraw, in fuch quantities, and at fuch times as
they think proper, at a moderate expence, cannot but
meet with a candid reception.

Cuthbert Clarkey oi Bel ford ^ in the county o^Northum'
hcrland^ thinking the above confiderations woil worthy
his intention, has employed his utmoft efforts to accom-
modate the public with machines for the above purpofe ;
and flatters himfelf, that the machine he has contrived
will, upon trial, meet with approbation, as it will make
great difpatch, be very fimple, commodious, and dura-
ble *. And in order to make it come as cheap as
poflible to the fubfcribers, he intends to furnifh them
en the following terms, and free of the common addi-
tional expence of a patent.

• It is impoflible precifely to compute the time fuch a machin«
»iay laft, but in all probability it will threfti annually all the corn pro-
duced upon a two hundred pound corn farm, and lait thirty years for
about ten fhillings a year repairs. It may b? conveyed any diftance by
two good carts, and may be placed or fet up in two days time, by any
country Wright who can follow direftions.

Con-

[ 6o ]

taHf and cuts them with a horfc hoc,
without a mold board, into rows, 1 4 inches
alunder, then with hand-hoes he fets them
out into fquares of 14 inches, and after
that, with a double mold board plough,
earths them up, and finds the crop much

Conditions.

1. This machine fhall, in ten hours, worked by one
iiorfe (with a boy to drive, and a man to feed the
machine, clear ofFthe ftraw, &c.) fairly tHrefh as mudi
corn as what is ufually eftimated the work of eight
men for that time, in the common way of two threfh-
ing together,

2. In order that this machine may be both lafting
and generally ufeful, the inventor engages as follows :
3 ft, That all its parts fhall conlift of good materials,
which fhall be duly proportioned to their various ufes.
2d]y5 That the whole procefs of feparating the grain
from the ftraw, fliall be rendered fo plain and eafy, that
a common labourer may be trufted with the full ma-
Jiagemcnt of it. 3dly, That the conftru£lion fhall be
fuch as may be contained, and conveniently worked
within a common barn, with the addition only of a
fmall hovel againft one fide of it.

3. A trial of one of thefe machines is intended to be
et Belford aforefaid, before all, or as many of the fub-
fcribers as can attend, within one month after fifty
■fubfcriptions are completed, of which particular notice
will be given.

4. If at this trial it is fully proved, that the machine
anfwers the conditions before mentioned, and fecurity
is given, that each fubfcriber fhall in his turn (accord-
ing to the method the fubfcribers appoint for diftributing
them) have a machine delivered to him, or order, at

^dford^ every way as good as the trial machine ; each
of the fubfcribers fhall then pay the fum of 5 /. in part
of 42/. the full conftderation-money for one com-
plete

( 6i ]

better than in the common method, and
the land left in finer order.

An experiment he tried of the effedl of
eledricity on vegetation, deferves atten-
tion ; he planted two turneps in two boxes,
€ach containing 24/^. of earth: He kept

plete machine. The remainder of the faid fum
of 42/. to be pnid at the delivery of each machine, by
the perfon that receives it.

N. B. The inventor having been informed, f.nce
propofals for making the abovementioned Machines
have been delivered, that many people, whofe concerns
in the farming-way are fmall, are very defirnus of hav-
ing machines, for the above purpofes, of fmaller di-
mcnftons and price : He, therefore, tofuitthem, and
others, who rather incline to have fmall machines, has,
upon the fame principles, conflriJCted a machine with
which two men, without any other afliftance, with
eafe, rnay in ten hours fairly threfh as much corn as is
ufually eftimated the work of four men for that time,
in the common way of two threfhing together: And
intends to make thefe fmaller m.achines by fubfcription,
exaiStly on the fame conditions with the large machines,
except that the price of them is only to be 22 /. each,
and the part of that fum, which is to be advanced at the
trial of the machine (which will be at the fame time the
large machine is tried) is only to be 3/. The fmall ma-
chines, without difengaging any of their parts, may be
tranfported from one place to another; and will pro-
bably laft as long as the large machines, and may be
kept in repair at a proportionable expence.

All Gentlemen, &c. who intend to encourage this
defign, by fubfcribing, and have not an opportunity ot
meeting with the inventor, are defued to acknowledge
it by letter (fignifying at the fame time which of the
machines they chufe) dircded to him at Bclji^d, with-
in four months from the date hereof.

them

[ 62 ]

them in the fame cxpofurc, and all cir-
cumftances the fame to each, fave that one
was eledlrified twice a day, for two months,
at the end of which time it was in full
growth, the fkin burfting, and weighed
9 lb. The other, at the end of four
months, did not quite reach that weight :
A ftrong proof that the electric fire had a
remarkable power in promoting and quick-
ening the vegetation.

At Waren, near Belford, have been fbme
improvements of moor land, which deferve
mention. The foil is a black, rotten,
boggy, peat earth, lets at i j. 6 d. an acre.
They plough it up in OBober, and let it lie
all the fucceeding fummer without touch-
ing, and like wife the winter, when they
lime it : Of this manure they reckon too
much cannot be laid on ; generally i o or
12 fother, at 24 bufhels each, which
cofts 3 J. 6^. a fother, befides leading,
which is 6 d. Some few from 20 to
30. After this liming they crofs plough
it, and harrow it three or four times;
then fow turneps, which, if wol fown,
want, according to their notions, no
hoeing. They are worth, upon a me-
dium, about 50 s. per acre. After

thefe

[ 63 ]

thefc turncps they plough once and few
•ats, 4 buQiels to the acre, and gain a crop
of about 28 or 30. This crop is fucceeded
by a fecond of oats, managed as before,
and the produce much the fame : After
this comes a third, as before ; but it
fcldom yields above 20 bulhels per acre.
After this, they fallow and lime it, and
fow turneps, which are not worth above
25/. an acre. Next comes oats, of which
they do not get above 1 6 bufhels ; they fow
fome ray grafs, and a few other feeds,
which may make the field worth 5 or 6 j.
an acre, for 5 or 6 years : They ufe it for
cows and fheep. A worfe lyftem cannot
well be conceived.

At Hettorty a few miles weft of Belford,
the husbandry varies much. The foils arc
light loams, and rotten, black, moory
land; let from is, 6d, to 15/. an acre;
average, about 6x. 6d. Farms rife from
100 to 700/. a year, but are, in general,
from 2 to 300/. Their courfes are,

1. Turneps

2. Barley

3. Clover

4. Oats.

And,

Fallow

2. Wheat

•[ 64 ^

2. Wheat

3. Peafe

4. Wheat.

They plough 6 times for wheat, foW
£ bufliels in October, and do not reap, in
return, above 10, upon an average. For
barley, they plough once or twice, fow
3 budiels in Aprily and gain, in return,
about 24. For oats, but one ploughing,
fow 6 budiels before barley, and reckon
the medium crop at 30. For beans, (of
which they fow but few,) they plough but
once, fow 31 bufliels, broad cafl, never
hoe them, and gain about 18 ; ufe them
for horfes. For peafe, alfo, one plough-
ing, fow 4 builiels, and gain 15. They
give four earths for turneps, hoe them
twice; the medium value per acre, ^c^s,
they ,ufe them for flieep only.

Clover they fow with barley ; both mow
and feed it: If the former, they get
about a ton and half per acre.

As to the management of their manure,
they ftack their hay in general in the
farm yard, except what is ufed for flieep ;
but know nothing of chopping Hubbies
for littering the farm yards. They lime
a great deal ; lay fix cart loads on an

acre.

[ 6s ]

acre, or i 20 buflicls, which cod^ 3 ;-. 9 ^.
per load, belides the leading. In the burn-
ing of lime, one load of coal burns two
of lime. — They never fold their flieep.

Good grafs land lets at 20 j. an acre.
They ufe it chiefly for fatting beads, i f
acre will fat one of 70 or 80 ftonej and
an acre feed four lliecp. They very feldom
manure it.

Their breed of cattle Is the fhort horned,
both for fatting and milking. The product
of a cow they reckon at 4/. 4^. a good one
will give five gallons of milk /^^r day : They
feed them in winter upon both hay and
flraw; of the firft of which a cow eats
from I \ to 2 tons, and always feed in a
houfe. Of fwine they generally keep one
to two cows. Their calves do not fuck at
all, but are brought up by hand; three
months for rearing, and fix weeks for the
butcher. A dairy maid will take care of
12 cows. The fummer joirt: is 351. and
the winter's the fame.

The profit of fatting an ox of 70 fi:one
they reckon 50 x.

Swine they fat from 10 to 24 fiione.

Their flocks of fheep rife from 300 to
2 coo, and reckon the profit of all forts.

Vol. III. F one

[ 66 ]

one with another, at 5X. per flieep per an-'
num. They keep them in winter and
fpring upon their flieep walks and turneps ;
of the latter they keep fome to the end
o^ April, The average weight of fleeces
7 ib. and value 7 d, per lb.

They conftantly falve all flieep in OBo-
ber^ with tar and butter; two gallons of
tar and a firkin of butter, melted together,
will do 110. They reckon this method
keeps them free from the fcab, warm in
the bad weather, and alfo makes the wool
grow.

In their tillage they reckon 20 horfes
and as many oxen necelTary for the ma-
nagement of 500 acres of arable land ; they
ufe in a plough two horfes and two oxen,
but in feme lands only two horfes, which
do an acre a day in fummer, but only three
roods in winter : They allow their horfes two
bufhels of oats a week/'i'r horfe, and reckon
the annual expence per horfe at 6/. 6j-.
The winter food of their oxen is ftraw and
fome coarfe hay ; and they calculate the
whole annual expence at lefs than 50j-. but
horfes are the beft, though not in proportion
to the expence. The time of breaking up
the bubbles for a fallow is the beginning of

March -,

[ 6/ ]

March -, and the price per acre of plough-
ing 5 J-. They cut from five inches deep to
ten in light loams. They know nothing of
cutting ftraw into chaff. The hire ©f a
cart and three horfes is 7 j. a day.

In the hiring and (locking farms they
reckon for the taking one of 500/. a year,
that from 1500 to 2000/. is neceffary.

Land fells at 30 years purchafc* Ther^
are many freeholds from 50 to 300/. a year.
Much land in this neighbourhood tythe
free.

Poor rates in general low, from nothing
up to 2 s. in the pound. The poor women
and children in total idlenefs. They do not
drink tea, but fmoke tobacco unconfcion-
ably. The farmers carry their corn feven
miles.

The general oeconomy of the country
may be feen from the following particulai^
of farms :

2500 acres in all
1250 arable
1250 grafs
^.650 rent

22 horfes ^'.

30 mares and foals
24 oxen

F 2 4 cows

[ 68 ]

4 cows

40 fat beafts
40 young cattle
2000 fheep

1 man

2 maids
35 labourers
10 ploughs

7 carts.
Another,

2500 acres in all
1 000 arable
1500 grafs
jT. 700 rent

15 horfes

16 oxen

7 mares and foals
12 cows

45 young cattle
2000 Iheep

2 men

2 maids
20 labourers

5 ploughs

6 carts.
Another,

1 100 acres in all
80Q arable

;oo grafs

[ 69 ]

300 grafs
^.300 rent
20 horfe
8 oxen

5 mares and foals

6 cows

50 young cattle
1000 fheep

4 men.
2 boys
2 maids

16 labourers
6 ploughs
6 carts.

Another,

1000 acres In all
500 arable
500 grafs
jT. 320 rent
14 horfes
1 2 oxen
8 mares and foals

5 cows

20 young cattle
1000 fheep
2 men
2 maids

F 3 8 labour-

[70 ]

8 labourers
4 ploughs
4 cans.
Another,

70c acres in all
500 arable
200 grafs
^. 160 rent
12 horfes
12 oren
6 mares and foals
6 cows
20 young cattle
500 fheep
3 men

1 boy

2 maids
10 labourers

3 ploughs
3 carts.

Another,

700 acres in all
100 arable
600 grals
^.200 rent
9 horfes
8 oxen
3 mares and foals

6 cows

[ 7' ]
6 cows

12 young cattle
700 ilieep

1 man

2 maids

6 labourers
2 ploughs

2 carts.
Another,

240 acres in all

30 arable
210 grafs

3 horfes

5 mares and colts

4 cows

6 fatting beafts
400 fheep

1 man

2 maids

3 labourers
I plough

I cart.
Their moor hufbandry is as follows :
They plough it up in Odiober, four i: hes
deep, and let it fo remain till the O:toher
following, then they plough it again, and
fummer fallow liie land, and lime it, the
F 4 quantity

[ 72 ]

quantity before mentioned, and fow tur-
neps3 the crop of which are worth, upon
an average, about 50 j. to 3 /. an acre upon
dry land : After thefe they fow oats, and
get about 40 bufhels per acre, and with
them fow down with ray grafs, three
bu/liels per acre , after which the land
would lett for 4 j. 6 d. per acre, and will
lad feven years. After this they break
it up again, and take two crops of oats and
turneps, but not near fo good as at firft;
then they lay it down again. This procefs
is upon dry foils ; if they are wet, they do
not think them worth meddling with.

Mr. John W'llkky of Hettojij one of the
moil confiderable farmers in this county,
has tried carrots with fuccefs j he fows
them the end o^ March y on a light loam,
hoes them twice, to the diftance of five
inches afunder : They grow to the fize of
a man's wrifc, and 12 inches long; all
cattle are very fond of them, particularly
hogs. Mr. Wilkie has found them ex-
tremely profitable.

LABOUR.

In harvefl, is. 6d.

In hay time, \s. and ale.

In

[ 73 ]

In winter, gd.

Mowing grafs, 2S.

Hoeing turneps, 4i-. 6 c/.

New ditching, is. 2d. a rood.

Thrafliing, the 25th.

Headman's wages, 10/.

Next ditto, 7 /.

Lad of 10 or 12 years, 5/.

Maids, 50/.

Women per day in harveil, i s.

In hay time, 6 d.

In winter, 4 d,

IMPLEMENTS.

No waggons.

A cart, 7/. 7 s.

A plough, I /. 8 i".

A harrow, i /. i j".

A roller 5/.

A fcythe, 3 s.

A fpade, 3 J". 6d.

The laying the fhares and coulters, and
keeping the ploughs, &c. in order,
alfo the carts, and flioeing the horfes,
the blackfmiths do for 20 j-. a horfe, and
the iron : If iron not found, 40 s.

PRO-

[ 74 ]

PROVISIONS.

Bread — barley and peafe.

Cheefe, id.

Butter, 5 ^. i6 oz.

Beef, 3 d.

Mutton, 2|^.

Veal, 2 d.

Pork, 3 d.

Milk, \d.2. quart.

Potatoes, \s. 2d.2i bufhel.

Candles, 6 d.

Soap, 6 d.

Labourer's houfe rent, lo j-,

Firing, 15^.

Tools all found.

BUILDING.

Bricks, loj.

Tiles, 40/.

Oak, IS, 6 d.

A{h, IS.

Mafon /'frday, is. 6d.

Carpenter, i j-. 6 d.

Thatcher, is. 6 d.

Farm houfes of ftone.

From

[ 75 ]

From Be/ford to Berwick land letts upon
an average at 12s. an acre, farms from 100/.
to 500 /. a year. Their wheat crops amount
to 24 huihds per acre on a medium; bar-
ley 36, and oats as mucii. Berwick has
nothing more worthy notice than its bridge
over the Tweed.

P R 0 V I S I

0

N S.

Bread, 10 oz. wheaten.

id.

Other ditto, 14 02;.

I

Butter, 18 oz.

6

Mutton,

2i

Beef,

- 31

Milk, per pint.

-

z

Potatoes, per bufhel.

- 2S.

Candles,

51

Soap,

6

Labourer's houfe-rent.

-

20 J-.

firing, -

-

2SS.

Labour as at Be/ford.

From Berwick to WooUer land letts upon
an average at 9 s. per acre ; farms from
200/. to 1000/. a year.

About Fenton, near Woller, the foil in
the vales is a fandy loam of 2 feet depth,
but upon the higher lands it is not more

than

[ 76 ]

than from 3 to 6 inches deep. Letts from
2s. 6d. to 12 s, and fome to 20 j. an
acre.

Farms from 100 /. to 2000 /. a year.

Their courfes are,

1. Turneps

2. Barley

3. Oats

4. Peafe

5. Wheat
Alfo,

1. Fallow

2. Rye

3. Oats.

4. Oats.
And,

1. Turneps

2. Barley

3. Peafc

4. Wheat.

This is a very good courfe.

They flir for wheat three or four times,
fow 3 bufhels in Ociober, and reap upon an
average 3 quarters. For barley they plough
once, fow 3 bufhels and \ about the middle
gI April 'y and reckon the mean produce at
3 quarters and \,

For

[ 77 ]

For oats they plough but once, fow fix
buihels before barley, and gain, in return,
from four to fix quarters. Beans and peafe
they mix, and fow of them four buihels
on one ploughing, broad caft ; never hoe
them; the crop about 25 bufliels. For
peafe they give but one ploughing, fow three
buihels and a half, and get 20 in return.
For rye, after turneps, they plough but
once, after a fallow three or four times,
fow two buihels, ahd get 30. They
flir for turneps three or four times, hoe
once, in common, and fometlmes twice j
the average value per acre, 50^-. They
ufe them chiefly for feeding iheep.

Clover they fow with barley, and mow
it for hay, of which they get about two
tons per acre -, and fow oats after.

In the management of their manure in
the farm-yard, they have only fuch as they
make from feeding their hay and ftraw,
as they flack the former not in the fields,
but in the farm yards. They know nothing
of chopping flubbles. Of lime they lay
from three to eight loads, 30 buihels each;
it cofls 4 J. a load, befides the leading.
They never fold their fheep.

Good grafs land letts at los. an acre;

they

[ 78 ]

they apply it chiefly to breeding. An acre
and a half will feed a cow, and one acre keep
four fheep ; They never manure it. The
breed of their cattle is the fhort horned,
which they prefer to any other -, their oxen
are very large, fat to 150 ftone. They
reckon the produd of a cow at 3 /. They
give about four gallons of milk per day :
They keep about two pigs to a cow. The
winter food of their cows, ftraw and hay;
of the latter of which they generally eat
about two tons each. The winter joift is
25 J-. and the fjmmer, 30. They do not
let their calves fuck at all, but feed them
by hand, from three to five weeks, for the
butcher, but half a year for rearing.
They keep their cows all winter in the
houfe.

Their flocks of flieep rife from 500 to
10,000; and the profit of them they cal-
culate at 8 J-. in the vales, and 3 s. upon the
hills. The winter and fpring food are the
commons ; but they give fome hay in very
ftormy weather : The weight of the fleeces
from 3 to 7 /^. in the vales, and from 2 to
4 on the hills, and from 6 ^. to 9 d. price.
Very large flocks of ewes are milked
ofter the lambs are v/eaned, for from 6 to

10

[ 79 ]

10 weeks : They make the milk into butter
and cheefe, the amount of both which
may amount to about 2 j-. a head : The
butter is all ufed in falving them; the
cheefe fells fo high as \d. a pound. The
hinds wives milk them. This is but a
paltry affair.

In their tillage they reckon 20 horfes and
16 oxen neceifary for the management
of 500 acres of arable land 5 their draught

2 horfes and 2 oxen, which does an acre a
day. Their allowance of oats per day is \
a peck, and they reckon the annual ex-
pence of a horfe at 5 /. The fummer joift
of a horfe is 25 ^. The winter food of the
draught oxen, flraw and hay, but never
work on ftraw alone : They prefer horfes
fo much that oxen are going out of ufe by
degrees. The time of breaking up their
ftubbles is at Candlemas , from 4 to 7
inches deep ; the price of ploughing from

3 J-. 6 d. lo 5 s. And that of a cart, three
horfes, and driver, 4 s.

They know nothing of cutting ftraw
into chaff.

They calculate, that a man who hires a
farm of 500 /. a year, fhould have from 2
to 3000 /.

Land

[ 8o ]

Land fells at 30 years purchafe: Very
few fmall eftates.

Tythes in general compounded.
It is not the cuftom for the farmers to
raife any thing, by way of rate, for the
maintenance of their poor, but each keeps
his own fliare : As to the expence, it
fcarcely amounts to a farthing in the pound.
The poor women and children have no
employment. They are not tea drinkers,
but fmoke tobacco immoderately.

The farmers carry their corn eight miles.
The oeconomy of their farms may be
fcen from the following iketches.
6000 acres in all
2000 arable
4000 grafs
^. 1050 rent
100 horics
80 oxen
30 cows
200 young cattle ,

8 coo fheep
12 men
6 boys
6 maids
80 labourers
' 1 5' ploughs
20 carts. Another,

[ Si J

Another,

5000 acres in all
1500 arable
3500 grafs
jT. 1500 rent
80 horfes
60 oxen
30 cows
150 young cattl*
3000 fheep
3 men

3 boys

4 maids
50 labourers
15 ploughs
20 carts.

Another,

2000 acres in all
500 arable
1 500 grafs
^.700 rent
20 horfes
20 oxen
20 cows
80 young cattle
2000 (heep
2 men
2 boys
"Vol. III. G % maids

[ §2 ]

2 maids
25 labourers

8 ploughs
10 carts.

Another,

1000 acres in all
400 arable
600 grafs
^.500 rent
20 horfes
16 oxen
8 cows
60 young cattle
800 Iheep

3 men
3 boys
2 maids

16 labourers
I waggon

7 carts

8 ploughs^

LABOUR.
In harveft, i ;-. 6 d.
In hay- time, is, 6d,
In winter, is.
Mowing grafs, u. 4^. to is. 6d.

Hoeing;

[ h ]

Hoeing turneps, 3^. to 6j-.

Threihing, the 25th part.

Head man's wages, 8 /.

Next ditto, 6 /.

Boy of 10 or 12 years, 3 /.

Maids, 50 J", to 3 /.

Women per day, in harvefl, 8 ^. to i s.

In hay-time, 4 d.

In winter, 4^.

But I fliould here remark, that fome of
thefe prices refped: only the hands which
do not belong to the village j for their own
labourers are not paid in money, but in
what is called here l?o// andjient : That is,
the farmer pays as follows. He keeps the
man two cows ; allows him 66 bufhels of
grain of all forts ; one ftone of wool, (24/^.
to the ftonej) leads his coals j finds him a
houfe ; half a rood of land for potatoes ;
keeps him a hog, and fov/s half a peck of
flax for him : The wife has 5 j-. for her hay
and harveft 5 and a boy, when of 12 years
of age, 30 bufhels of corn.

IMPLEMENTS.

A waggon, 18 /.

A cart, 7 /.

A plough, i/. 8.f.

G 2 A har-

[ 84 ]

A harrow, i8/.
A roller, 3 /.
A fcythe, 2J-. 6d.
A rpade, 3 j-. 6d,
Laying a fhare, 4 d.

' '■ a coulter, 4^.

Shoeing, is. ^d.

PROVISIONS,

Bread — peafe and barley.

Cheefe, 21 d.

Butter, ^d. 16 oz.

Beef, 3 d.

Mutton, 3 d.

Veal, 2 d.

Pork, 3 d.

Milk, f three pints.

Potatoes, 3 ^. a peck.

Candles, 6 d. ^ per lb.

Soap, t \d.

Labourer's houfe-rent, 9 to lis.

firing, 20 s.

— — . Tools found by the farmerr

BUILDING.

Bricks, 12 j. t d, afld vile.
Tiles, 45 J-.

Oak

[ 85 3
Oak timber, 2 s. per foot.
Afli, I s.

Mafon per day, i j-. 6 d.
Carpenter, ditto.
Farm-houfes of ilone and tile.

In the townfhip of Fenton are
j6oo acres
2 farms
1000 acres flieep-walk
30 labourers
34 horfes
30 oxen
46 cows
1 1 50 fheep.

From Wooler I turned afide to go up
Cheviot Hill, whofe towering head invited
me to the profped:, which I could not but
fuppofe he muft command. The height
of this mountain is prodigioully great, and
the view from it on all fides moft extenfive.
I faw Gate/head Felly near Newcaftky at
the diftance of 55 miles, and feveral objects
mScotlandy hey ond-Editiburgh, as I was told.

Between Wooller and Rothbury, and alfo

between Alnwick and Rothhiry, are vaft

tracks of mountainous moors : indeed all

the latter fifteen miles arc abfolutely un-

G 1 cultivated.

[ 86 ]

cultivated, except half a mile of inclofed
valley about half way : The ling in vaft
tracks, high, thick, and luxuriant, and the
foil a fine light loam: In fome places
black, but every where deep. I do not
conceive that there is an acre of it, but
what might be made, at a fmall ex-
pence, worth 8 or lo s. for ever. What
a field for improvement ! What a noble
fource of riches and population ! How
much is it to be regretted that fuch exten-
five tracks of land fhould remain in fuch a
defolate condition, whilii the products of
the earth fell at a beneficial price ; and
while v/e hear fuch clamours among the
people for want of a greater plenty of
food.

About Kothbury the foil is both gravely
clay, fand, and moory j the inclofures let
at 20 s. an acre y the moors at i /. and
afterwards at 2 j-. 6 d. and more.

Farms rife from 50/. to 150/. a year.

The courfes :

1, Fallow

2. Wheat

3. Barley

4, Oats.

And.

[ 87 ]

And,

1 . Turneps fed off for

2. Wheat

3. Barley

4. Oats.

AHb,

1. Turneps

2. Barley

3. Oats

4. Oats,

For wheat after turneps they plough
but twice ', after fallow three or four times ;
fow two bufhels an acre in OBober and
November, and reap from fixteen to twenty.
For barley they ftir twice, fow three bu-
fhels the end of April or the beginning of
May, and reckon the average produce
twenty-four bufhels. They plough but
once for oats, fow fix bufhels, before bar-
ley, and gain in return from forty to fixty.
For peafe they give but one ploughing,
fow two bufliels, before barley, and get,
upon an average, about ten bufliels. They
ftir three or four times for rye, fow two
bufhels, and reap twenty.

For turneps they plough thrice, hoe
them twice, and reckon the mean value
per acre at 3 /. ufe them for fheep and

G 4 beafls.

[ 88 ]

beails. Potatoes they prepare for by both
ploughing and digging -, if the former,
they ftir three times, and manure the land
well : They lay the flices in the furrows,
and hand-hoe them as the weeds rife, once
or twice : They get eighty bufhels oft an
acre, and reckon the crop very profitable :
Wheat or barley after them.

Their chief manure is liming ; they lay
five load per acre, at twenty-four bufhels
fer load, and generally on the fallow for
turneps or wheat. Their hay they ftack
at home. Though improvers of moors,
yet they know little of the paring and
burning hufbandry.

Good grafs will let for a guinea an acre :
They ufe it more for fatting beafts than
for feeding cows : One acre of good grals
will carry a cow through the fummer, or
four flieep. The breed of cattle is the
fhort horns, of which they feed oxen from
60 to 120 ftone.

They reckon the produdl of a cow at
4/. 10 J. or 5/. and expc6t two firkins
and a half of butter from each upon an
average. A good one will give fix or (even
gallons of milk per day : One kept by
Mr. Whit tarn, when he lived near Roth-

bury.

[ 89 ]

hurji gave in common 24 gallons a-day :
A fad: I much doubted, until the perfon
who gave me the intelligence called in
two or three perlbns to vouch for the truth
of it. They keep about two pigs to five
or fix cows. The winter food is hay and
firaw, of the former about half an acre.
The calves never fuck at all, but are
brought up by hand ; for the butcher three
weeks, and for rearing three months.

Their flocks of fheep rife from 40 with-
out right of commonage, to 4000 with; and
they reckon the profit at js. a-head; their
common winter food is on the moors, but
in deep fnows they give them hay. Their
fleeces run from 3 -to bib.

In their tillage they calculate four horfes
and four oxen necefiary for the culture of
100 acres of arable land. They ufe two
horfes and two oxen in a plough, fome-
times only two horfes, and do from half
to three quarters of an acre a-day. They
allow their horfes three gallons of oats per
week y and reckon the annual expencc
per horfe at 6 /. Their draught oxen they
feed on fi:raw and hay in the winter.
Horfes they exped: will do more than
pxen, but the latter arc much the cheapeft.

They

[ 90 ]

They break up their ftubbles for a fallow
in May, The price of ploughing is 3 j. 6 d*
an acre, and the depth five inches. The
hire of a cart for carrying coals is 5 J. a day,
for working in the roads 3 s.

In the hiring and flocking of farms, they
reckon that 350/. is neceffary to flock one
of 100/. a year.

Tythes are generally compounded for in
the total. Poor rates from \s. to \ s. 10 d.
in the pound. The employment of the
women and children is chiefiy fJDinning
wool.

The farmers carry their corn 17 miles.
The general ceconomy of the country
will appear from the following particu-
lars of farms :

450 acres in all.
250 arable.
200 grafs.
^. 180 rent.
9 horfes
8 oxen
15 cows
20 young cattle
1000 fheep
I man
3 boys

4 maids

[ 9' ]

4 maids
2 labourers.
Another,

200 acres in all
8o arable
I20 grafs
£.70 rent
4 horfes
2 oxen
10 cows
8 young cattle
200 fheep
I man
I boy
I maid
I labourer.
Another,

130 acres in all
90 grafs

40 arable
^.35 rent

5 cows

4 horfes

4 young cattle

100 fheep

I boy

I maid

1 labourer.

Another,

[ 92 J

Another,

loo acres in all
50 grafs
50 arable
jC- 30 rent
4 horfefi
2 oxen
4 cows

8 young cattle
50 fheep
I man
I boy
I maid.

LABOUR.

In harveft, is, 4^. and is, 6d. and a dinner. *

In hay time, i s. dinner and beer.

In winter, i s,

Thrafhing, the 19th of all grain.

Head man's wages, 12/.

Next ditto, 8 /.

Boy of 10 or 12 years, 3/.

Maids, 3/. and 3 /. los.

Women per day in harveft, 10 d, and i s,

and dinner.
In hay time, 6 d, and dinner^
In winter, 4 d,

PRO-.

[ 93 ]

PROVISIONS, &c.

Bread— Barley and peafe

Cheefe, per lb, 7.\d,

Butter, 5^. i6 i?2;.

Beef, 4^.

Mutton, id.

Veal, 2 d. and 2 | </.

Pork, 31^.

Milk, a pint, \

Potatoes, I J". 12 quarts.

Candles, 7 ^.

Soap, 7^.

Labourer's houfe rent, 10/. to 2 ox.

" firings 20J-.

IMPLEMENTS.

No waggons,

A cart, 5 /.

A plough, 17X.

A harrow, 10 s.

A fcythe, is. S d.

A fpade, 3 j. 6 d.

Laying a fhare and coulter, 8 d.

Shoeing, 1 s. ^.d,

B U I L D I N a

Oak timber, i s, ^ d, per foot
Aih, IS. 6d.

Elm,

[ 94 ]

Elm, I s. 6 d,
A mafon, per day, i s. 6d.
A carpenter, is. 6 d.
Farm houfes of ftone.

From Rothbury I took the road to Wol"
lington ; the foil various, much uncultiva-
ted, though not fo defert a track as the
laft. A few miles before Camh, there is
a very fine new^-made lake of Sir Walter
Blackett'Sf furrounded by young planta-
tions, which is a noble water j the bends
and curves of the bank are bold and natu-
ral, and when the trees get up, the whole
fpot will be remarkably beautiful.

About Cambo the foil is chiefly clay and
moory land, letts from ioj-. to 20j-. an acre.
Farms from 30/. to 100/. a year. Their
courfes are,

1. Fallow

2. Barley

3. Oats

4. Oats.
And,

I. Fallow

2.. Wheat >

3. Oats

4. Oats.

Alfo,

[ 95 ]
Alfo,

1. Fallow

2. Rye

3. Oats.

But not often three crops to a fallow, upon
the whole.

They plough four times for wheat, fow
three bufliels in OBober and beginning
of November^ and reap about 24.

For barley, they ftir four times, fow
from four to five bufliels in Aprils and
reckon the average produce at 35.

They ftir but once for oats, fow 7 bufliels
after barley fowing, and get upon a me-
dium about 50 bufliels.

For rye they plough four times, fow
three bufliels and half (a vafl: quantity) and
reap upon a medium 1 8 bufliels.

They give four earths for turneps, hoe
them but once; and reckon the average
value at 3 /. per acre : Ufe them for fheep,
beafl:s and cows.

Lime is their principal manure, lay a
fother or ton per acre, that is, 24 bufliels,
on fallow J the cofl: zs, t d. Their hay
they fl:ack at home.

Good grafs land letts at from 20/.
to 25 J^. an acre; they apply it chiefly to

the

[ 96 ]

the dairy ; an acre and half they calculate
as a cow's fummer feed. Their breed of
cattle is the middling, between the long
and (hort horned : Their oxen they fat up
from 50 to 100 ftone, but generally 60.

They value the product of a cow at 4/.
IOJ-. or 5/. feed them in winter on hay
and ftraw ; of the former of which they
eat about an acre and half, and always in a
houfe. They keep three or four fwine to
ten cows. Their calves fuck fome three
weeks or a month, and fome not at all.

Their fwine they fat from 20 to 30
flone.

About Cambo they keep no fliecp, upon
account of the white-thorn hedges in their
new inclofurcsi but within a mile or two
from 1 00 to 1 000 ; the profit they reckon
at 8 s. per iheep : Keep them both winter
and fpring on the commons.

They calculate that fix horfes and fix
oxen are requifite for the culture of 100
acres of arable. They ufe three horfes ini
a plough, or two horfes and two oxen,
and do three roods a day. Their allow-
ance of oats is two bulliels of oats per horfe
per week; and reckon the annual expence
at 6 /. \o s. The time of breaking up

their

[ 97 ]

their ftubbles for a fallow is In March or
April. The price of ploughing 3 s. ari
acre, and the depth five inches. The
hire of a cart, three horfesj and a driver,
is 3 J. a day.

They reckon that a man fhould be worth
300/. who hires a farm of 100/. a year.
Tythes are taken in kind.
Poor rates 6 i. in the pound; their em-
ployment knitting and fpinning.

Twenty-one miles is the diftance the
farmers carry their corn.

The following fketches of farms will
fhew the general oeconomy of the country.
200 acres in all
150 arable
50 grafs
jT. 100 rent
8 horfes
8 oxen
12 cows
20 young cattle

1 man

2 boys

1 maid

2 labourers.
Another,

300 acres in all
tot. HI. H ijoarabie

[ 98 ]

150 arable
150 grafs
jf. 1 40 rent
10 horfes
8 oxen
20 cows
20 young cattle
2 men
2 boys

2 maids

3 labourers.
Another,

90 acres in all
40 arable
50 grafs
^.50 rent

4 horfes
2 oxen

5 cows

6 young cattle
I boy

I maid
I labourer,

LABOUR.

In harveft, is. and board.

In hay time, ditto.

In winter, Sd, and 10 d, and ditto.

Headman's wages, 12 /.

Next

[ 99 ]
Next ditto, 8 /.

Boy of ten or twelve years, 3 /.
Maids, 3 /. to 5 /.

Women per day in harvcft, i s, and dinner*
In hay time, 8 d, and ditto*
In winter, 6 d,

IMPLEMENTS.

No waggons.

A cart, 7/. I o s,

A plough, 20 J.

A harrow, 12 s,

A fey the, 2 j. 6 ^. to 4 s,

A fpade, 't^s. 6d.

Laying a fhare and coulter, ^* and iron*

Shoeing, 6 d. and iron.

PROVISIONS, &c.

Bread — ^rye, maflin, and barley.
Cheefe, 2 d.
feutter, 6\d, 21 oz.
Beef, 3 d.
Mutton, 3 d.
Milk, \ d. three pihts.
Potatoes, is, 6 d, 2. bufhel.
Labourers houfe rent, from 5 j. to 15 x^
firing, 16/.

H 2 fFa//ing^

[ 100 ]

WalUngtony the feat of Sir Walter Blac-
kettj is a large handfome houfe, which ap-
pears, from the difpofition of the apart-
ments, to be very convenient. We were
fhewn iirfl: into fome common keeping
ones, a Hbrary, dining parlour, ^c. in
which I remarked a piece of dead game,
by Hubenery that was well done j and ano-
ther of dancing dogs, grotefque enough.
In the dining-room, of 40 by 21, the
chimney-piece of white marble is hand-
fome ; the cieling of ftucco work in fcrolls,
very light and pretty. Here is alfo ano-
ther piece of dead game by Hubenery fome
of it well executed i and at the other end
of the room the portrait of a hat and ruf-
fles. Likevvlfe a needlework fcreen of tent
Iritch, very elegant.

The faloon, 40 by 22, and a good
height j a mofl: elegantly proportioned
room. The cieling and the whole very
neatly worked in flucco : The former
coved, the center an oblong of mofaics -,
and the cove, fcrolls and feftoons. The
chimney-piece handfome, of llatuary mar-
ble polilhed ; in the center, boys gather-
ing grapes, in relievo. The furniture of
tills room is very elegant. There are two

Dabs

[ >o. ]

flabs of very beautifully veined marble, or
compofition ; and under them very fine
china jars. In one corner of the room is
a noble china ciftern. The two giran-
doles of gilt carving, for feveral candles,
are exceedingly light and elegant; and
the china jars on the chimney-piece, very
fine.

The drawing-room, 34 by 22, hung
with lilk and worfted crimlbn damafk.
The cieling ornamented in flucco, with
light fcrolls, furrounding a center of boys
emptying a Cormiacopia, The chimney-
piece of polifhed white marble, with k(-
toons of grapes, &c. Over it a landfcape,
architecture, and trees, in a light, glow-
ing, brilliant ftile ; extremely pleafing,
though not perfectly natural. Slabs very
elegant, the glalTes large, and the frames
of both very neatly carved and gilt.

A drefling-room, 2 1 fquare -, and a bed-
chamber, 22 by 21.

The new kitchen gardens are excellently
difpofed, kept in admirable garden huf-
bandry, and the conveniency of water very
great. The gardener's houfe is pleafantly
fituated on the banks of the river i and,
from feveral very neat bow window rooms,
H 3 an

[ ^02 ]

an agreeable view of three water-falls in
the river.

It will not here be impertinent to add,
that Sir Walter Blackefs is the only placQ
I have viewed, as a granger, where no
fees were taken.

The roads through Sir Waiters eftate,
which is of very great extent, are excel-
lent ; a piece of magnificence which can-
not be too much praifed. The country is
all newly inclofed, and Sir Walters hedges
remarkably good ; he feems very attentive
to raife line fences, for the v/hite thorns are
very regular, luxuriant, and kept perfed:ly
clean from weeds. From Wallington to
Choleford Bridge land letts from i o j. to
20 ,f. an acre -, farms from i oo /. to 400 /,
a year.

From the latter place to Glenwelt, the
country is all moor, but of an excellent
foil : And, what is aftonifhing, vafl trads
of le^Jel valley^ not gills, as they are called
in the North j that is, narrow feparations
between the mountains, without level
ground : And thefe breadths of fiat foil are
of an extraordinary depth and richnefs,
and evidently want nothing but inclofing
gnd draining to be made at once worth

lOJi.

J

[ 1^3 ]
3© J. an acre; nor are thefe low lands of
any trifling extent, but amount in quantity
to fome thoufands of acres. It is amazing,
that in a country, in which a free exporta-
tion of corn was allowed for fo many years,
fuch tracts of land fhould remain in fo de-
fer! a ftate. What infatuation in the fu-
perior fort of cultivators, to pay fb high
for land, in fo many parts of the king-
dom, while fuch fertile waftes remain un-
cultivated. Great part of this country is
a green fward, or what in Torkjhire is
called White Land,

About Glenwelt the foil is chiefly of
three forts, fand, gravel, and clay ; letts
from 5 /. to 20 /. an acre ; and farms rife
from I o /. to 50 /. a year. Their courfes
are,

1. Fallow

2. Wheat

3. Barley

4. Oats.

And,

1. Fallow

2. Barley

3. Wheat

4. Oats.

H 4 Alfo,

[ 104 ]

Alfo,

1. Turneps

2. Barley

3. Oats.

They plough four or five times for
wheat, fow three bufhels either in Septem-
ber ^ October t or November ; and reap at an
average thirty bufhels. For barley they
ftir two or three times, fow three bufhels
about the end oi April, or the beginning of
May, and get at a medium four quarters.
They give but one ploughing for oats, fow
fix bufliels before barley fowing, and get
ninety bufliels at a medium. For beans
they plough but once after barley, fow five
or fix bulhels before oats, never hoe, and
get on good land fo high as feventy bufhels :
They ufe them for horfes, and fome the
poor grind for bread. They give but one
fiirring for peafe, fow five bufhels about the
time of beans ; and as to crop, fometimes
they get thirty bufhels, and at others not
the feed.

They fow but little rye — the culture is to
plough four times, fow two bufliels and a
half, and the crop does not, upon an ave-
rage^ exceed 35 buihels.

Turneps

[ '05 ]

Turneps are not much cultivated ; but
they plough five times for them, hoe them
once, the average value /'^r acre 50 j. and
ufe them for oxen and fheep.

Clover they fow with barley ; generally
mow it twice for hay, get two tons and a
quarter, and fow wheat after it.

For potatoes they plough four times,
dung the land at the rate of twelve loads of
long horfe dung, laying it in the furrows,
and the dices on it; twenty bufhels plant
an acre in rows, one foot afunder every
way : They hoe them twice, and reckon
the crop in general from 200 to 240 bufhels.
They fow wheat or barley after them; but
the land is in excellent order for any thing.

Lime is their principal manure; they
lay about IQO hufhds per acre upon every
fallow, which coll: about 20 s. They have
fome little paring and burning. — No fold-
ing of fheep. They flack their hay both
in the field and at home.— No chopping of
flubbles.

Good grafs letts at 20 s. They ufe it
both for fatting and milking, and reckoii
that an acre will carry a cow through fum-
xner, or five flieep ; but they are tolerably
careful in rqanuring it„

Their

[ io6 J

Their breed of cattle is between the long
and ihort horns ; the oxen fat to 5 o ftone 3 and
they reckon the produ<5l of a cow at 4/. they
reckon that each makes three firkins of but-
ter, and gives four gallons of milk a day; but
nine gallons has been known. They keep
very few fwine to their cows, fome none
at all, others two, three, or four, to twelve
cows. Their winter food hay and ilraw,
of th^ firft of which they generally eat a
ton. The calves do not fuck at all to rear,
but for the butcher a month or five weeks,
A dairy maid can take care of ten. The
winter joift 30 j. and the fummer the fame.
They keep them all winter in the houfe.

Their flocks rife from 20 to 500, and
they calculate the profit of them at 5 x. a
head. Their winter and fpring food the
commons alone -, and the weight of their
fleeces on an average not above 3 /6.

They reckon four oxen and four horfes
necelfary for the culture of 1 00 acres of
arable land ; ufe two of each in a plough,
and do an acre a day: They allow each
horfe two bufhels of oats a week ; and
reckon the annual e.xpence of keeping, &c.
at 10/. The fummer joifl: is 3/, The
winter food of their draught oxen is hay and
flravy, but they work them on fl:raw alone:

They

f ^^7 ]

They reckon oxen much the beft on ftoney
and on unlevel ground; but on other land
horfcs. The time of breaking up their
ftubbles for a fallow is at Candlemas : Their
depth of ploughing four inches, and 6 s»
the hire per acre. That of a cart and horfes
is.6d.

They reckon 400/. neceflary for the
(locking a farm of 100/. a year.

Land fells at from 30 to 40 years pur*
chafe. Many eftates from fmall rents to
100/. or 200/. a year.

Poor rates i s, 6 d. in the pound. The
employment fpinning and knitting,— Very
few drink tea.

The farmers carry their corn nine miles.
The general ceconomy of the country
will partly appear from the following par-
ticulars,

130 acres in all
60 arable
£.60 rent
3 horfes
3 oxen
9 cows
2Q young cattle
3 fatting beafts
100 Iheep

I man

[ io8 ]

I man
I boy

1 maid.
Another,

200 acres in all
80 arable
I20 grafs
^.80 rent
4 horfes

4 oxen
10 cows

22 young cattle

5 fatting beafls
300 iheep

2 men

1 boy

2 maids.
Another,

80 acres in all
20 arable
60 grafs
^•35 rent

3 horfes
5 cows

2 young cattle
20 fheep
I boy .
I maid.

LA-

[ ID9 1

LABOUR.

In harveft, 8 d, and board.

In hay time, 6 d, ditto.

In winter, ditto.

Thrafliing, the 20th.

Head-man's wages, 10 /.

Next ditto, 6 /.

Boy of ten or twelve years, 20/.

A dairy maid, 5 /.

Other maids, 4/.

Women per day in harveft, 8 d, and board.

In hay time, 6 d. and ditto.

In winter, 4 d. and ditto.

IMPLEMENTS.

No waggons.

A one horfe cart, 3 /. 10/.

A plough, 25 i.

A harrow, j s. 6d,

No rollers.

A fcythe, 41. td.

A fpade, 3 s.

Laying a (hare and coulter, 6 </. and iron;

Shoeing, 2 /.

PRO-

( no ]

PROVISIONS, &c.

Bread-— barley and peafe and beans, and

oatmeal.
Cheefe, 2d.
Butter, 16 0^, 6(1.
Beef, 3^*
Mutton, 2 \d.
Veal, 2d.
Pork, 3 d.
Milk, \ pint, new.
Potatoes, 6 gallons* 8 d..
Candles, 6 d.
Soap, 5 i ^.

Labourer's houfe rent, los. to 20.;,
--^ ^ firing, I o J.

BUILDING.

Oak timber, i /. to 2 s. 6 d. per fobt.

A(h, ditto.

Elm, ditto.

A mafon per day, i s. 6d.

A carpenter, i s, 6 d.

A thatcher, i s. and board.

Stone walling 4/. 6^. a rood building, and
from I s. to 2 J. 6d, cutting j the com-
mon height feven quarters.

Some

[ III ]

Some moor land is every year inclofcd
and improved in this neighbourhood : Their
method is to plough it up in winter, to
fallow it the fucceeding fummer, and lay
90 or I GO bufliels of lime per acre ; they
fow rye upon it, and get 50 or 60 bufliels
per acre : Then a fecond crop of rye, of
35 or 40 bufhels: Next oats, of which
they have 60 or 70 bufhels ; with this crop
"ifome throw in a few grafs feeds, but the
imofl common method is to leave it to turf
itfelf. They pay no rent of fuch land for
the firft feven years, but \o s. an acre after-
wards, for 2 1 years, or any other time.

Some pare and burn, but the number
very few : They fow rye twice, and oats
as in the other method : The crops of corn
are better in the paring and burning, but
they reckon the fucceeding grafs not fo
good. They always inclofe before this
improvement, as it is called.

Much of their moory foil is the black
rotten molTy land > but fome of it white
land, which is very good. The boggy parts
they cut a few open drains through, to bet-
ter the herbage, by laying it a little dry,
but never attempt any other improvement.
In many of thefe moors the foil is very

deep^

[ 112 ]

deep, but in fome places (hallow, with tnc
rock near the furface.

From Glenwelt I walked about half a
mile to view feme of the remnants of the
famous Roman wall : The mod perfedl re-
main of it is on the edge of a rocky preci-
pice, a piece about five feet high, and feve-
ral yards long ; the facing is of regularly
Cut free ftones, but I meafured none q£
them above thirteen inches long and fevea'
broad ; the mortar in the facing is quite
gone, but much of it remains in the mid-
dle, the filling up 5 very little of it is of
that hard nature found in fome ancient
Duildings, but crumbles with eafe between
the fingers. The flones of the facing are
cut very regularly, and well laid -, the work-
maniliip undoubtedly very good. Not
far from this wall the remains of an earth
entrenchment, thrown up for the fame pur-
pofe, are feen in a parallel line with it.

North from Gle?iwelt, about five miles
On the river Arden^ is a natural curiofity,
very well worth viewing : It is a very fine
rock of petrified mofs. A dripping ftream'
falls over a rock hung thick with mofs,
which petrifies, and is taken from the rock
in that Hate : It is foft at firfl, but hardens

upoit

[ "3 ]

boon being dry, and remains in ftonc in ii
mofl beautiful pierced form. The rock
itfelf is extremely beautiful, and hangs over
your head in a pidurcfque grotto ftile, quite
romantic.

As I enter Cumberland to-morrow, yoii
rnuft permit me to conclude this letter with
a few remarks on the hufbandry in general
of the extenfive county of Northumberland.

The farms become large almoft im-
hiediately on entering it, after the fmall
ones of Torkfljire and Durham) and rife iii
many parts of it to be as great as any in the
•kingdom, if not the greatcft ; but they mufl
be divided Into two clafTes, thofe which
confift of cultivated lands, and others which
are chiefly moor farms.

The hufbandry of the firfi is inucn fupe-
rior to that of the two preceding counties;
and that nbt only in one or two trifling ar-
ticles, but in many very important ones.
Manuring is carried on With greater fpirit;
lime is ufed iii larger quantities \ and they
utiderftand bettef the rhiinagetnerit of the
farm-yard manure. — Hoeing of turneps
is a pregnant inftance j I found it coming
into practice at Gofwortht and all hoed
about Morpeth. The potatoe culture is car-

VoL, III; I rJcd

[ IH ]

ried on upon a much larger fcale : And, in
fhort, the whole management better, and
more fpirited.

With the other clafs, this is not the
cafe : The grand article of their agricul-
ture is the improvement of moors ; and a
viler or more flovenly hufbandry than theirs,
in this branch, can no where be found.
The ploughing up waftes, without a pre-
vious inclofure, and breaking up the deep-
eft foils, without paring and burning ; —
the fowing two, three, and even four crops
cf corn running, upon a ploughing up, and
liming ; = — the leaving the exhaufted foil
to turf itfelf, in fome places, and only
fcattering a little ray grafs in others; — the
keeping 8 and 10,000 fheep, and ne-
ver folding: — iVU thefe are ftrokes of bar-
barifm, which tend to damp and even
extinguifh the fpirit of improvement, from
the infallible want of fuccefs, and to the
leaving a country, after what is here called
improvement- in as miferable and wafte a
ilate as before it was begun.

The occupiers of large farms, who arc
confequentlymen of coniiderable fubftance.
are, in moil parts- of 'Englandy the greatefl
of all improvers \ Nature takes a new face

under

I

[ >'S ]

Imder their hands ; whole counties drb
converted at once from defarts, into finely
tultivated countries : But here we meet
with no improvements that deferve the
name ; nothing lafting ; three or four to-
lerable crops, and then the land left as de-
folate as ever, in the trtte fpirit of a little
louzy farmer of 20 /. a year. Unworthy
thofe who occupy as many hundreds !

While moors are thus improved^ I do not
inuch wonder 'at feeing fo much wafte land
in Northumberland : But furely the land-
lords are ftrangely remifs, in not introdu-
cing better cuftoms ; letting no tracks
without their being inclofed, and retrain-
ing their tenants from exhauiling the foil
by continued crops ; obliging them^ ajt the
fame time, to lay it down to grafs, in a
given manner : But this muft be done by
pradifing fuch methods thcmfelvesj that
the fuccefs may juftify the propofal : If
the farmers of the country are, neverthe-
lefs, backward in following fuch examples,
men of large eflates can well afford the
importation of others, from counties whofe
cultivators are more informed.

It is very melancholy to ride through
fuch vaftly exteniive tracks of uncultivated

I 2 good

[ Ii<^ ]

good land, as are found in every part of this
county : And it is equally unfortunate, that
fo many men of fubftance, in the farming
way, fhould tread perpetually in the beaten
route, and hire land, in fo many parts of
Bjitglandy at an enormous rent, while fuch
quantities are to be had almoft for nothing.
This is truly the cultufque habitufque loco^
rum prcedifcere.

Gknwelt, I remain yours, ^c*

LETTER

[ '17 1

LETTER XVII.

'pROM Glenivelt to Brampton^ I pafTed -
over fome moors of an excellent fandy
loam, and yet quite uncultivated. The in-
clofed lands are good, lett from los. to z^s.
per acre, farms from lo/. to loo/.

At Carlijle is a confiderable ftampery of
printed cottons, eftablifhed by fome ma-
nufadurers from Newcajilt", the labourers
in it earn from ij-. to 3 J. a day. Alfo a
manufacture of checks, which employs
many looms; the earnings from is. to
I J". 3 J. a day.

Three miles to the fouth o^ Carlijle, land
letts about 1 5 j. an acre at an average.
Farms from 20/. to 200/. a year. In
as many more, they are not fo large, from
30/. to 120/. and rents from 2J-. to 20 j.
an acre.

About High A/cot the foil varies from a
light loam and gravel to a clay, letts from
{O J-. to 20 J-, an acre.

Farms from 10 /. to 100 /, a year.

I 3 The

i "8 3

The courfes are,

1. Fallow

2. Wheat

3. Oats

4. Peafe,
And,

1. Turneps

2. Barley

3. Clover for three years.

For wheat they plough three or four
times, fow three bufliels and reap about
twenty, For barley they plough twice,
fow three bufhels, and reckon the average
produce the fame as of wheat. They ftir
but once for oats, fow feven bufliels and afi
half, and gain fifty in return. For peafe
they likewife plough but once, fow three
bufliels. and gain at a medium fifteen.
They ftir twice or thrice for rye, fow three
bufliels, generally in February or Marcbt
(a very remarkable time,) and reap twenty.
They cultivate fome few turneps ; plough
throe or four times for them; a few
farmers hoe them : The medium value
they reckon at 50 j. ah acr^ ; and ufe them
for cattle and flieep. Clover they ibw
with barley or oats, generally mow it for
hay, and get about a ton at a mowing.

For

[ 1^9 ]

For potatoes they plough thrice, give
the land a good coat of dung ; chufe the
dryeft foils for them ; and lay the dices in
every other furrow, one foot from plant to
plant. On coming up they plough be-
tween the rows, to deftroy the weeds ; a
pra6tice one would fuppofe fufficient to in-
troduce a good turnep culture univerfally ;
for thofe who fee the cfFeds of this opera-
tion on potatoes might furely extend the
idea to turneps. — They get 300 bufhels
per acre, and fow rye after them.

Good grafs letts at 20 s. an acrcj they
apply it chiefly to dairying, and reckon that
an acre and half will feed a cow through
the fummer ; and an acre carry four iheep :
Very few of them manure their grafs.
Their breed of cattle is the long horned,
which they account much the heft. Their
beafts they fatten to about forty ftone.

The produd of a cow they reckon at 50 s,
or 3/. that a middUng one will give
ffom two to four gallons of milk a day,
and make from four to ftven pounds oi
butter a week. They have no notion of
keeping hogs in confequence of cows ; a
dairy of twenty not maintaining above one
cr two. The winter food of their cows is
I ^ ftraw

[ I20 ]

ftraw or hay, a ton and half of which is the
quantity they commonly fuppofe a cow tq
eat in the winter; but if clover hay is ufed,
one ton is enough. — The fummer joift is
25 J. and that of winter 30 j. and 35 j.
They reckon ten cows the bufinefs of a
dairy maid.

Their fiocks of fheep rife from 20 to 1 20,
and the profit they reckon at 6 s. a head ;
lamb 5 J. and wool i s. They keep thern
the year round on the commons : — The
average weight of fleeces 4/^.

In the management of their arable lands
they reckon fix horfes neceflary for 100
acres of arable ; they ufe two in a plough,
and do an acre a day. The annual expence
of keeping horfes they reckon at 5 /. i o j.
or 6 /. The joiH: in fummer 40 s. in win-
ter 50 J-. They break up their ftubbles for
a fallow in February-, plough fix inches
deep: The price of ploughing ^s. an acre j
and of a cart and horfe and driver 2 j". or
3 J-. a day. They know nothing of cutting
ft raw for chaff.

Three hundred pounds they reckon ne-
cefiary for a man to flock a farm of 1 00 /.
a ycaro

Tythesi

I >2' ]

Tyt'hes are generally gathered. Poor
fates 6 d. in the pound ; the employment
of the women and criildren fpinning an4
knitting.

The farmers carry their corn nine miles.
The general oeconomy will appear from
the following fketches of farms.
I GO acres in all
60 arable
40 grafs

4 horfes

6 cows

I fatting bead
I o young cattle
80 fheep

I man

I boy

1 maid.
Another,

1 40 acres in all
86 arable

54 gi'afs
X- 9 5 rent

7 horfes
J 2 cows

2 fatting beafts
22 young cattle

30 fheep

[122 ]

30 fheep

1 man

2 boys
I maid

1 labourer.
Another,

125 acres In all
5 5 arable
70 grafs
£•70 rent
4 horfes
9 cows
26 young cattle

2 fatting beafts
50 fheep

I man
1 boy
I maid
I labourer.
Another,

80 acres in all
40 grafs
40 arable
£.yo rent
5 cows

I fatting beafl:
1 3 young cattle
30 fheep

I n\^n

[

123

]

I man

I maid

I boy.
Another,

50 acres in all

20 arable

30 grafs

>C- 35 rent

3 cows

I fatting

beaft

2 young

cattle

20 fheep

I boy.

LABOUR.

In harveft, 4^. a week, and board.

In hay time, i j. a day, and board.

In winter, 8 d. and ditto*

Mowiog grafs, 2 s. an acre.

Ditching, 3' d, to 8 ^. a rood.

Head man's wages, 10/. to 12/.

Next ditto, 7/. to 7 /. 7 s.

Boy of ten or twelve years, 25/.

Dairy maids, 2/. ioj*. to 3/.

Other ditto, 2 /. 5 j-. to 2 /. i o j-.

Women in harveft, 4/, a week, and

board.
Jn hay time, 8 d. and board a day.

I M P L E-

[ 124 J

I M P L E M E N T S, ^c-

No waggons.

A cart, (one horfe) 3 /. to 5 /.

A plough, I /. lis. td,

A harrow, i/. 10 j.

No rollers.

A fcythe, 3 j. 6 d.

A fpade, zs, 6 d.

Shoeing, 2 j-^

P R O V I S I O N S, G?^.

Bread— barley, and barley and rye, I d*

Cheefe, 2d.

Butter, 6d^

Beef, 3 d.

Mutton, 2 d.

Veal, z\d.

Pork, 4 d^

Milk, \ d. per pint.

Potatoes, ^d.

Candles, yd.

Soap, 7 d.

Labourer's houfe-rent, 10 s, to 20 s.

BUILDING.

Oak timber, 8 ^. to 2 i".
$s.{h, 1 s. 6d.

Mafon

f 125 ]

Mafon I s. per day, and board.
Carpenter, ditto.

Slate at the quarry, - o i6f. o

Laying, - - o 13 o

Leading eight miles, 140

Total per rood, 213 o

Stone walls, 6 d. z yard workmanfhip, and
IJ-. 6d. every thing except lime.

AhoMt Penrith there are variations, which
deferve noting— The foil is of divers forts,
clay, fand, gravel, loam, and black moory
earth. The medium rent of that inclofed is
1 5 J", the uninclofed, z s, 6 d. and 3 j. t d.

Farms rife from 10/. a year, fo high as
700/. but in general from 80/. to 150/,!
Their courfes are>

1. TurnepS

2. Barley

3. Clover

4. Wheat

5. Oats.

Another,

1. Oats on the grafs broke up.

2. Barley

3. Oats

4. Oats

5* Peafe

[ 126 ]

5- Peafe
6. Barley.
This is capital indeed! but vefy coril-
tnon; for much land, even within two or
three miles of Pefirii/b, hath been fbwn
every year with either barley, oats, or peafe,
for thefe feventy years. This information
aftonifhed me ; I inquired the produce on
fuch land> and found it reckoned as goodj
upon the whole, as other foils, managed
upon more modern principles ; five or fix
for one of oats, and when wheat happens
to be fow^n, ten or eleven for one. Fal-
lowing is a fiew fajhion, and not perfed:ly
relifhed by the farmers yet.

In a common way they generally plough
for wheat from three to (ix times, fow two
buihels about Michaelmas^ and gain, upon
an average, about three quarters. For bailey
they plough from on.ce to thrice, fow two
bufhel? and a half in April or May^ and
gain about 25. Sometimes barley is fown
en new broke up land, and the produce c^o
bufliels. They give but one llining for
oats, fow four bufkels before bai-iey fowing^
and get 28 in return. For peafe they give
but one earth, fow two bufhels, and get in
return about 16; generally ufe the grey

roun-

[ 127 1

rounclvals. They give from three to five
ploughings for rye, fow two bufhels, the
crop about 24.

For turneps they give three or four
earths, never hoe, and reckon the average
value per acre at 50 s. ufe them for fheep,
and fatting of beafts. Clover they fow
with either barley or oats, generally mow
it once, (three times have been known,)
and get two ton of hay per mowing.

They prepare for potatoes by ploughing
twice or thrice ; dung the land with long
horfe dung j lay the fetts in every other
furrow, ten inches afunder, and hand-hoe
between them if weedy; fometimes they
horfe-hoe them : If the land is defigned
for wheat, they lime it about Midfiimmer,
while the potatoes are growing. The crops
rife to 200 hviihch per acre, but the ave-
rage about 1 20 ; price about 2 j. a bufhel.

Lime is their principal manure, though
but of a few years flanding : They lay 90
bufhels per acre on their arable lands ;
cofts them from i \ d. to 3. d. per bufhel,
befides leading i they lay it on every fal-
low : They likewife ufe it on their mea-
dows, and find it to anfwer well. But dung
they reckon much better for every thing-

They

[ '^8 ]

irhey pare and burn a little, at the expence
of 24 J. an acre. No folding fheep, noir
chopping ftubbles. Stack their hay in
buildings.

Good grafs letts from 15J. to 20 s. an
acre : They ufe it both for dairying and
fatting hearts; reckon that an acre will
fummer feed a cow, or feed five flieep.
Their breed of cattle the long horned,
which they think much the beft; their
oxen they fat to about 40 ftorie.

The produdl of a cow they calculate at
4/. JOS. and generally have two firkins of
butter from eath : the medium quantity
per week about 7 /L but fometimes 14 /^.
per cow. They keep but few fv^ine in
proportion to their dairies, not above two
to ten cows. The v/inter food is ftraw
and hay ; of the latter about a ton a head.
They reckon a dairy maid can manage ten.
cows. 25 or 30 J. the fummer joift. In
winter they keep them all in the houfe.

They reckon 3 /. the profit on fumme'r
fatting a beafl of fifty florie. Swine fat fromi
50/. to 4/. 4J-. a head.

Their flocks ofdiccp vary greatly ; from
40 to 3000 : The profit they reckon 5 s.
feaeh; that is, lamb 41. and wool is.

They

[ 129 ]

They feed them both winter and fpring
on the commons. The average of the
fleeces 3//^.

They reckon fix horfes neceflary for the
management of 100 acres of arable land;
ufe two or four in a plough, as the foil isj
and do three acres in two days. They ac-
count the expence of keeping a horfe at
6 /. a year. The fummer joift 2 /. 2s.

They do not begin to fallow till after the
barley fowing. The price per acre of
ploughing 5^. and 5 j-. 6 d, and the com-
mon depth four inches.

They know nothing of cutting ftraw for
chaff. The hire of a one horfe cart zs. 6d.
a day.

Three hundred pounds they affert is a
fum fufficient for flocking a farm of 100 A
a year.

Land fells in general at about thirty
years purchafe.

Tythes in general gathered.

Poor rates at Penrith is. 3 ^. in tlie

pound. In the country parifhes td. and

upwards, biit in fome nothing at all. The

employment of the v/omen and children

fpinning, and fome knitting : All drink tea.

Many eflates from 40 /. to 200/. a year.

VoL. IIL K The

[ 13° ]
The corn is generally brought to Pen^
rithi and fent to Kendal by carriers.

The following are particulars of feveral
farms.

2000 acres, all grafs
^. 200 rent

5 horfes
20 cows

40 young cattle
2000 fheep
I man

1 boy

2 maids

4 labourers.
Another,

100 acres in all
40 arable
60 grafs
iC- 75 rent

6 horfes
10 cows

4 fatting hearts
24 young cattle
100 fheep
I man
I maid
I boy
I labourer.

Another,

[ ^31

Another,

240 acres in all

120 arable

120 grafs

jf. 100 rent

8 horfes

12 cows

8 fatting hearts

30 young cattle

200 fheep

I man

I boy

2 maids

2 labourers.

Another,

80 acres in all

60 grafs

20 arable

^.55 rent

3 horfes

4 cows

1 0 young cattle

I boy

I maido

LABOUR,

in harveft, i s, 6d. and beer.
In hay-time, is, 3^, and ditto.

K 2 in

[ .1^2 .]

In winter, I0(^. and ditto.

Reaping corn, 3 s. to 5 s.

Mowing grafs, is. to 2 s. 6 d.

Ditching, Sa'. a rood.

Threfhing wheat, 2^. to 2ld.

—— — barley, if<^.

— — — oats, I id.

Head man s wages, 1 2 /. to 14/.

Next ditto, 9 /.

Boy of ten or twelve years, 3 /.

Dairy maid, to 6 /.

Other maids, 3 /. to 4 /.

Women per day, in harvefl, 10^. and beer.

In hay-time, 8 d. and ditto.

In winter, 6 d. and ditto.

IMPLEMENTS, &c.

No waggons.

A cart, 4/.

A plough, i/. IIJ-. 6d.

A harrow, i6j-.

A roller, loj-. 6d.

A fey the, 2 s. 6 d. to 4. s.

A fpade, 2 s. 6 d. to 3 /. 6 d.

For ploughs, the farmers find their own

iron.
Shoeing. 2s.

PRO-

..*■

t 133 ]

P R O V I S I O N S, G?^.

Bread — oats, and barley and rye mixed;

coft I ^. id. and i d, per lb,
Cheefe, 2d,
Butter, b d, 18 0%.
Beef, 2\d.
Mutton, 2 \d.
Veal, 2 d.
Pork, 3 d.

Milk, I d. three pints fkimmed.
Potatoes, 3 d.
Candles, 7 d.
Soap, 7 ^.

Labourer's houfe rent, 20 J.
— — —Firing, 30 J".

BUILDING.

Bricks, 1 1 s. -per thoufand.

Slate, I s. 6d. per hundred— It is at quarry,

per rood, - - o 12s, o

Leading four miles, - 0120

Laying on, - - o 12 o

£. I 16 ^

Stone walls, 6 ^. a yard work ; and getting

and leading, \ s.2> d.
Oak, Q d, io 'IS,

'^ K 3 Afh,

[ '34 ]

A{h, 6d. to 2 J.

Elm, ditto.

A mafon is. S d. per day.

Carpenter, i s» S d,

Thatcher, is, 6 d.

Kefwick had too long been an object of
defire with me to neglect the opportunity
of feeing it : I went thither from Penrith :
But before I attempt any thing of a de-
fcription, let me mention matters of huf-
bandry. The country between thefe towns
is various, much of it moors, and quite
uncultivated, though evidently capable of
it, which is melancholy to refled: on.
About Kefwicky the hufbandry is as fol-
lows:

The foil is both a hazel mould, fand,
gravel, and moory; the firfl but {hallow:
The inclofed letts from 20 j. to 30 j. a
2[ight of comrnonage included.

Farms, from 10/. to 80/. a year.

Their courfe,

1 . Oats on turf

2. Fallow

3. Barley

4. Wheat

5. Oats, and graffes.

They

f '35 ]

They plough twice for wheat, fow two
bufhels and an half, about Michaelmas, and
reap 35 to 40, upon an average. They
alfo ftir twice for barley, fow fix bufhels
in April or May, and reap 40 in return.
For oats they ftir but once, fow feven
bufhels, and gain 50. They have no beans,
very few peafe, and as little rye. They
flir three times for turneps, hoe them once
or twice; the average value about 55 j.
ufe them for feeding fheep and ftall-fatting
oxen. They know but little of clover;
one or two farmers have tried it with bar-
ley, but found it good for nothing : It
muft have been upon ftrange land.

They have two ways of cultivating po-
tatoes, by ploughing and digging : In the
firft, they flir three times, and dung the
land well, lay the flices in every other
furrow, one foot afunder, and plough be-
tween them once while growing, befides
hand-weeding : They plough them up,
and get 2, 3, and 400 bufhels /^r acre.

Their other way is the lazy-bed me-
thod; they lay the dung on the green
fward, the flices on that, then they dig
trenches, and with the earth cover the
K 4 fetts.

[ '36 ]

{tits, but they reckon ploughing a better
way.

Good grafs land letts at 30 s. an acre ;
ufe it moftly for dairyings an acre and half
they reckon fufficient for a cow, and an
acre for four fheep : Manuring it is com-
mon. Their breed of cattle is the long
horned, and they reckon them beft : Fat
their oxen to fifty ftone; their fwinc to
twenty-four, or thirty.

The produdt of a cow they reckon at
3/. I3J-. 6d. and fix gallons per day a
common quantity of milk per cow : Do
not keep above one hog to ten. The
winter food, ftraw and hay; of the lat-
ter they eat about two ton. The fummer
joift is 35 J-. In winter they are kept in
the houfe : Their calves fuck about two
months.

Their flocks rife from 100 to 1000 ; the
pro^t they reckon at 4J-. 3 ^. a head ; that
is, lamb 3X. and wool is. 3^. fometimes;
5 j-. They keep them, in both winter and
fpring, on the commons. The average
weight of the fleeces, 4 /^.

In their tillage, they reckon that twelve
horfes are necefl^ary for the management of
100 acres of arable land : They ufe fome-

times

[ U7 ]
time« four, and fometimes two in a plough,
and do an acre a day with them. The
annual expence of keeping a horfe they
reckon at 6 /. los. the fummer joift
2 /. 2. s.

The price of ploughing, per acre, is
from 5 J. to 6 s. and March the time of
breaking up for a fallow. The hire of a
cart and horfe 3 i". a day.

In the hiring and flocking of farms, they
reckon 360/. or 400 /. necelTary for one of
80 /. a year.

Land fells at from 35 to 40 years pur-
chafe.

Poor rates 9 d. in the pound. — The
employment of the women and children,
fpinning, and winding yarn.

No fmail eftaies.

The following particulars of farms will
(hew their general oeconomy.
1 00 acres in all
90 arable
10 grafs

8 horfea
I o cows
4 fatting hearts

2p young cattle

4r:; Hieep

f 138 ]

400 iheep (common right)
I man
1 maid
I boy
1 labourer.
Another,

220 acres in all
100 grafs
I 20 arable
£. 80 rent
12 horfes
22 cows
30 young cattle
5 fatting beafts
400 Iheep (right of common)

1 man

2 maids

2 boys

3 labourers.
Another,

130 acres in all
50 arable
80 grafs
£-95 rent
6 horfes
1 2 cows
I 8 young cattle
200iLeep (right of common)

I man

[ 139 ]
I man

I mai4
I boy.
Another,

70 acres in all
20 arable
50 grafs
^.50 rent
4 horfes
8 cows

2 fatting beafts
200 fheep (common right)
I boy
I maid.

LABOUR.

In harveft, is. and beer.

In hay time, ditto.

In winter, 6d. and board.

Reaping wheat, 6 s.

Mowing grafs, 2 s.

Ditching, 4 <^. to 5 d. per rood.

Firft man's wages, 10/. to 11/.

Next ditto, 6 /.

Boy often or twelve years, 3/. to 3/. 10^.

Dairy maid, 4/. 14 j. 6d,

Other ditto, 3 /. 3 ,f.

Women per day in harveft;, i J. and beer.

In

[ 140 ]
In hay time, ditto.
In winter, 6 d. and beer.

IMPLEMENTS,

No waggons.

A cart for two horfes, 7 /.

A plough, I /, ^ s.

A harrow, 10/.

A roller, 14 j.

A fcythe, 3 j. to 5 s,

A fpade, 2 j. Sd,

Shoeing, 2 s.

PROVISIONS, &c.

Bread — oat and barley, I d. per lb,
Cheefe, 2d,

Butter, t d, id Xo \% oz.
Beef, id.

Mutton, 2\d, .

Veal, 2 d.
Pork, 3 d.
Milk, I pint.
Potatoes, 2\d, a peck.
Candles, 7 d.
Soap, 6 d.

Labourer's houfe rent, 20 s,
■> firing, 25 J. but many on hedge-

breaking alone.

BUILD^

[ HI ]

BUILDING.

Oak, IS. 2>d. to 2 J. 6d,

Afh, IS. 6d, to 2 s,

Mafon per day, i i. 6 d*

Carpenter, ditto.

Slate, 28 J. a rood, getting and laying.

Now, Sir, for the glory of i^^/<:>^,—
its Lake, (o famous all over England. Let
me firft inform you, that it is by compu^
tation ten miles round, of an oblong figure,
and inclofed by a prodigious range of for-
midable mountains, of fuch a height that
they are cloud- topped for feveral months
in the year. The befl way of viewing it is
to row round the lake, and land now and
then for catching the varieties of the prof-
pedl.

You walk from the town firft down to
CockJhut'M/'^, a fmall rifing ground, with-
in the amphitheatre of mountains, and has
been lately planted. The view of the lake
from hence is very beautiful : You have a
moft elegant fheet of water at your feet, of the

* I (hould apologize for many barbarous, and,
probably, wrong fpelt names, for they are taken from
the people at Kefwidc I have no where met with
them in printi

fineft

[ 142 ]

finefl: colour imaginable, fpotted with iflandsj
of which you fee five, and are high enough
to command the water around them. One
is in the middle, of about five acres of grafs
land, with a houfe under a clump of trees
on one fide of it ; the whole objed: beauti-
fully pidlurefque : You look alfo upon ano-
ther planted with Scotch firs; and alfo
upon three others more diftant. This is
the view of the floor of this noble amphi-
theatre ', the walls are in different flile—
fublime. To the left you look firfl on a
hilly rock, partly covered with fhrubby
wood ; and further on, upon a chain of tre-
mendous rocks, near 400 yards high; their
feet are fpread with hanging woods, but
their heads bare, broken, and irregular.
Following the line the lake feems to lofe
itfelf among a wood of rocks and moun-
tains, the tops rifing one above another in
the wildefl manner imaginable : The op-
pofite fhore prefents you a full view of a
vafl range of hills ; and behind, you look
upon the prince of the furrounding moun-
tains, Skiddow, whofe tremendous head
rears above the clouds.

Leaving this hill you v/alk down to
your boat, and are flruck with the limpid

tranjp-

r 143 ]

(ranfparency of the water, which almofi
exceeds belief; the bottom is quite paved
with ftones, and the white ones glitter
through the trep.mlous curl of the furfacc
like fo many diamonds. You row to the
left pafs, a variety of fhore, here rocky and
projecting, there low and retiring, coail: a
planted illand, and coming under Wallow
Crag, one of the immenfe rocks before
mentioned, you have from its foot a very
fine view : The furrounding rocks and
mountains are iruly noble ; the crag above
you, fringed about a third of its height with
pendent woods; the lake at your feet
breaks beautifully into a bay behind a pro-
montory, called Stable-hills ; againfl it is
Brampfiolm IJland^ ; and over the low
part of the promontory you catch the wood
on Lord's IJland, in a very pleafing manner.
The oppofite fhore is beautifully fcattered
with hanging woods, and fome white
houfes give a livelinefs to the view truly
pleafing.

Taking your boat again, and rowing
till you are oppofite the opening between
Wallow and Barrow Cra^rs, the noife of a

* Belonging to Greenwich Hofpical.

water-

f H4 ]

water-fall unfeen, will .induce you to land
again ; walking on to a little ruinous
bridge, you look upon a romantic hol-
low of rocks and woods, with a ftream
pouring down the clefts in many {heets^
and feen among the trees in the moft
pidturefque manner; a romantic fcene of
rock, and wood and water thirty feet high.
Rowing from hence, under Barrow
Crag, the iliore is rocky, and various :
Faffing fome low ground, and landing on
a riling one, the view is exquifite. The
water breaks in the mod beautiful man-
lier imaginable, into bays and flieetSj
ftretching away from the eye mod glori-
oufly, between the Stable Hills , Lord's
IJlandy and Vicars IJlajid : BrampJJjolm
cuts in the middle j and St, Albaiis IJle
prefents his broad fide to your full view.
At the other end of the lake, the riling
hills, part of cultivated, waving inclofures,
and part of hanging woods, all fcattered
with white houfes, and the whole crown-
ed with the lofty mountains, are beauti-
fully pidturefque, and contrail Unely with
the view of the fouth end of the lake>
around which the rocks and mountains are

tre-

[ HS 3

tremendouQy bold, pendent, and threat-
ening.

Following the coaft, the fhore is thinly
fringed with wood ; then you row around
a projeding land, containing feveral inclo-
fures, and come under a fine, thick, hang-
ing wood, with a raging torrent breaking
through it, over rocks, juft feen between
the wood and Barrow-fide^ but heard in the
mofl romantic manner. — You next anchor
in a bay, the environs of which are dread-
ful ; you are under a monftrous craggy rock,
(Throng Crag,) fcattered with fhrubby
wood to the very edge, and almoft perpen-
dicular i and moving the eye from the for-
midable objedt, you find this end of the
lake furrounded with a chain of them, in
the boldeft and abruptefl ftile imaginable.
The oppofite fhore of mountains very
?:reat : and noife of diftant water- falls heard

o

Inoft gloriouily.

From hence yoii coaft a dreadful fhore
of fragments, which time has broken from
the towering rocks, many of them of a
terrible fize ; fome flopped on the land by
larger than themferves, and others rolled
into the lake, through a path of defola-
tion, fweeping trees, hillocks, and every

Vol. III. L thing

[ 146 ]

.iiiiig to the water; the very idea of a
fmall fliiver again il ihe boat ftrikes with
horror.

Advancing, you catch the view of a
moft beautiful water-fall, within the wave
of a gentle bend of the rocks ; but to en-
joy the full luxuriance of this exquifitc
landfcape, it is neceffary to land and walk
to an opening in the grove, from whence
it is feen in furprizing beauty.

You look up a tremendous wall of rock,
perpendicular to the top, fcattered with
wood, that feems to hang in the air ; a
large ftream ruflies out of a cliff near the
top, and falls, in the mod broken and ro-
mantic manner, feveral hundred feet : It
falls in one gufli for feveral yards j a pro-
jedting part of the rock breaks it then into
three ftreams, which are prefently quite
loft behind hanging woods. Lower down,
you again catch it in a fingle bright flieet,
among the furrounding dark wood, in the
moft elegantly pi6turefque manner that
fancy can conceive. Lofing itfelf again
behind the intervening tree?, it breaks to
the view in various fcattered ftreams, half
feen, glittering in the fun beams, among
the brandies of the trees, in the moft be-
witching^

].:JirM7.pa^jcJ46

t 147 3
\vitching colours of nature's clear obfcurtf j
Lower ftill, you again catch it united in
one bright rulhing fall, in the dark bofonl
of a fine hollow wood, which fiiiiflies the
fcene. The furrounding hills, rocks, and
Icattered pendent woods, are all romantic
and fublime, and tend nobly to fet off this
mofl: exquifite touch of rural elegance. In
Plate I. is the fketch I took of it.

Following the coaft you fail rouiid a
fweet little ifland, a clump of wood grow-
ing out of the lake -, but it is joined to
the main land when the Water is very low*
From helnCe, perfuing the voyage^ you
come into the narrow part of the lake,
and have a full view of moft romantic
terrible craggy rocks, incloling a mofl: grand
and beautiful cafcade : It is a view that
mufl: aftonifh the fpe(5tator. You look up
to two dreadful pointed rocks, of a vaft
height, which almoft hang over your head,
partly fclttered with fhrubby wood, in the
wildeft tafte of nature. Between them is
a dreadful precipice of broken craggy rock,
over which a raging tofrent foams down
in one vaft fheet of Water, feveral yards
wide, juft broken into ebullitions by the
points of the rocks unfeen. At anpthef
L 2 tim<J

[ h8 ]

time I faw it> when the craggy rock ap-
peared, and the dream was broken by it
Into feveral guihing torrents, which feemed
to ifTue diftindly from clefts in the rock in
the mod pidurefque manner imaginable :
The water is loft in one fpot, caught again
in another ; foaming out of this cleft with
ruOiing impetuofity, and trickling down
that with the moft pleafing elegance. No-
thing can be fancied more grand, more
beautiful, or romantic.

The fketch in Plate II. will give you but
an imperfedt idea of it.

Taking a winding walk through the
wood, it leads down to a rapid ftieam which
you crofs, and prefently come to a new and
moft delicious fcene. To the right you
catch a (ide view of the fall juft defcribed,
in a new dire9:ion, moft beautifully em-
bofomed in rock and hanging wood. Full
in front you look upon another cafcade,
which rufhes out as it were from the rotten
ftnmp of an old tree, and falling down an
irregular furface of rock, it breaks into
larger and more fheets, fome full, others
thin and trickling, a moft fweet variety ;
After this, it breaks again, and falls into

the

Vol. JU.Pl 3.pcU7^74p.

[ H9 ]

the ftream in frefli beauty, elegantly ro-
mantic. Plate III. is the fketch I took.

Following the fhore into fleet water,
you come into a region of mofl: iiupendous
rocks, broken, and irregularly pointed, in
the moft abrupt and wild manner ima-
ginable, with monflrous fragments, large
as a houfe, that have tumbled from their
heads — Dreadful in the idea !

Perfuing the water to its point, you come
into a new and moft glorious amphitheatre
of rocks and mountains ; on one fide, crag-
gy, broken, and wildly irregular ; and on
the other, a vaft range of mountain fide.
The hollow magnificently great.

Going up the river to Grange bridge,
under Grange Crag the lake is loft : the
profped: new and terrible ; a whole fweep
of rocks, crags, mountains, and dreadful
chafms.

Leaving the boat, and walking up to the
village, you gain a view of a cone-like
rocky woody hill, rifing in the midft of a
hollow of mountains, moft nobly romantic.
From hence following the road to the lake
under Brandelow Hiil, you have the nobleft
view of rocks and hills in the world. Gra7tge
Crag and Crown Head appear in full view,
L 3 fur-

[ 15" ]

furroundcd by an immenfe wall of rock
and mountain. Th? effedt aftonifhingly
great.

Taking boat again you row round a pro-
digious fine promontory, beautifully wood-
ed ; and upon turning it, you tack about
round a moft exquifite little ifland in the
bay ; and if the water is very high, there
are two more very fine woody illands,
grgund which you may row : This little
archipelago will entertain a perfon of the
leaft tafte. Nor is the view of the lake's
environs unworthy of admiration. The
crags and clifts to the right are tremen-
dous : Skiddow fronts you in the fublimeft
ftile ; paddle-back on one fide of him rears
his head in tl^e boldeft rnanner : To the
left you lo©k upon an exceeding fine hang-
ing WQod, beautifully fpread over a waving
hill.

Advancing with the coafl yoq qext lan4
at the lead mines, which, if you have a
tafte for grotto work, will entertain, as a
boat may be loaded with fpar of various
glittering and beautiful kinds. Here alfo
are two ^uriofities of an uncommon kind:?
^/^. two fait fprings.

Sailing

[ 'S' ]

Sailing along the fhore it leads you un-
der a noble hill moft beautifully fpread with
wood i it is covered thick with young tim-
ber trees, which grow in the moft pi6tu-
refque manner down to the very water's
edge. You next enter a little bay, and
look upon a moft elegant fmall round hill,
covered with wood, inimitably beautiful.
This you alfo coaft, nor can any thing be
more truly exquifite than thefe two flopes
of wood, with beautiful inclofures between
them, contrafting the fublimity of the rocks
and mountains in the nobleft ftile. Nor
fhould you here forget to remark three or
four inclofures on the other lide of the
lake, down to the water's edge, under Ac/?-
nefs Fell', they are exquifite.

Sailing by fome very beautiful grafs in-
clofures you catch a white houfe romanti-
cally fituated 'y and then fl:irting more in-
clofures, turn round a fmall but moft ex-
quifite promontory, with a fweet clump of
trees on it : This leads into a very fine
land locked bay, which commands a beau-
tiful Hoping hanging wood ; the fcene en-
livened by a white houfc quite in the fpot
of tafte. From hence you Ipok over the
Jake upon Cajlle Head Crag^ a fine round
L 4 of

[ IS2 ]

of rocky wood rifing out of a vale and
backed with v/aving inclofures.

The fhore from hence is moft beauti-
fully indented and irregular, running up
among little hills finely fringed with wood :
From hence you wind in and out of feveral
bays and creeks, commanding very pic-
turefque views of the land, and around a
moft noble hill of fhrubby wood covered
to the very top. From hence around the
town the Ihore is flat.

Your next view of Kefwick mud be from
land, by walking up the vafl rocks and
crags firfl defcribed. This is a journey
which will terrify thofe who have been
only ufed to flat countries. The walk to
the highefl: rock is a mile and half up,
and almofl: perpendicular, horribly rugged,
and tremendous ; it is rather a climbing
crawl than a w.^.lk. The path crofled the
ftream, which forms the firfl: mentioned
cafcade, in the midfl: of dreadful clifts and
romantic hollows : The torrent roars be-
neath you, in fome places feen, in others
hid by rock and wood.

From hence you climb through a flope
of underwood to the edge of a precipice,
from which you look down upon the lake

and

[ "53 ]

and iflands in a moft beautiful manner ;
for coming at once upon them, after leav-
ing a thick dark wood, the emotions of
furprize and admiration are very great.

Following the path, (if it may be fo
called) you pafs many romantic fpots, 'and
come to a projedion of the hill, from
which you look down, not only upon the
lake as before, but alfo upon a femi-cir-
cular vale of inclofures, of a moft beauti-
ful verdure, which gives a fine curve into
the lake : One of the fields is fcattered
over with trees, which from hence have
the moft truly pidurefque effe6l ima-
ginable.

Advancing further yet, you come to the
head of Crajiig-fall^ which is a vaft open-
ing among thefe immenfe rocky moun-
tains, that lets in between them a view a-
crofs the lake, catching two of the iflands,
(^c. in a moft beautiful manner ; nor can
any thing be more horribly romantic than
the adjoining ground where you command
this fweet view.

At laft we gained the top of the cfag,
sod from it the profpscl is truly noble ;
you look down upon the lake, fpotted with
its illands, fo far below as to appear in ano-
ther

[ '54 ]
thcr region ; the lower hills and rocks rife
moft pidturefquely to the view. To the
right you look down upon a beautiful vale
of cultivated inclofures, vvhofe verdure is
painting itfelf. The town prefents its Mat-
tered houfes, among woods and fprcading
trees: Above it rifes iS/^/^t/ow, cloud- top-
ped in the moft fublime magnitude.

Dcfcending to the town, we took our
leave of this enchanting region of landfcape,
by fcaling the formidable walls of Skiddow
himfelf: It is five miles to the top, but the
immenfity of the view fully repays for the
labour of gaining it. You look upon the
lake, which here appears no more than a
little bafon, and its iilands but as fo many
fpots^ it is furrounded by a prodigious range
of rocks and mountains, wild as the waves,
fublimely romantic. Thefe dreadful fweeps,
the fport of nature in the moft violent of
her moments, are the moft ftriking objedts
{^^n. from Skiddowy but in mere extent the
view is prodigious. You fee the hills in
Scotland plainly i you view a fine reach of
^ ; command the Ijle of Man, and fee-
part of an objedt, which I take to be an
highland in Ire/and; befides prodigious
tr^icls of adjacent country.

i '55 J

Kefwick, upon the whole, contains a va-
riety that cannot fail of aftonilhing the
fpedlator: The lake, the iflands, thehang^
ing woods, the waving inclofures, and the
calcades are all moft fuperlatively elegant
and beautiful i while the rocks, clifts, crags,
and mountains are equally terrifying and
fublime. There cannot be a finer contraft.
Bqt it is much to be regretted that art does
not yield more of her affiftance, not in de-
coration, for the lake wants it not, but in
enabling the fpedator to command, with
greater eafe, the luxuriant beauties and
ftriking views which to fo many travellers
are hitherto quite unknown : There ^re a
vafl many edges of precipices, bold pro-
jections of rock, pendent clifts, and wild
romantic fpots, which command the moft
delicious fcenes, but which cannot be
reached without the moft perilous difficul-
ty : To fuch points of view, winding paths
fhould be cut in the rock, and refting-
places made for the weary traveller : Mi^ny
of thefe paths mqft neceftarily lead through
the hanging woods, openings might be
made to let in views of the lake, where the
cbje(fls, fuch as illands, 5cc. were pecuharly
^Deautiful. At the bottoms of the rock?

^Ifo,

[ '56 ]

alfo, fomething of the fame nature fhould
be executed for the better viewing the ro-
mantic cafcades, which might be exhibited
"With a little art, in a variety that would
aftonifh.

It is amufing to think of the pains and
expence with which the environs of feveral
feats have been ornamented, to produce
pretty fcenes it is true, but how very far
fhort of the wonders that might here be
held Up to the eye in all the rich luxuriance
of nature's painting. What are the effects
6f a Louis'^ magnificence to the fportive play
of nature in the vale of Kefwick ! How
trifling the labours of art to the mere
pranks of nature !

Returning to Penritbt our next expedi-
tion was to Hulls Water y a very fine lake,
about fix miles from that town : The ap-
proach to it is very beautiful ; the mofi: ad-
vantageous way of feeing it is to take the
road up Dimmanlot Hill, for you rile up a
very beautiful planted hill, and fee nothing
of the water till you gain the fummitj
when the view is uncommonly beautiful.
You look dov/n at once upon one flieet of
the lake, which appears prodigioufly fine.
It is an oblong water, cut by illands,

three

[ '57 ]
three miles long and a mile and half
broad in fome places, in others a n^ile.
It is inclofed within an amphitheatre of
hills, in front at the end of the reach, pro-
jedling down to the water edge, but retiring
from it on each fide, fo as to leave a fpace
of cultivated inclofures between the feet and
the lake. The hedges that divide them are
fcattered with trees ; and the fields of both
grafs and corn, waving in beautiful Hopes
from the water, interfed;ed by hedges, in
the moft pid:urefque manner.

Upon the right, a bold fvvelling hill of
turf rifes with a fine air of grandeur. An-
other view from off this hill is on to a
mountain's fide, which prefents to the eye
a fwelling ilope of turf, and over it Saddle*
back rifes in a noble ftile.

Another view from this hill is down
upon a beautiful vale of cultivated inclo-
fures; Mv.HaJfers houfe dXDelmainey in
one part, almoil: encompafied with a plan-
tation : Here you likewife catch feme
meanders of the river, through the trees,
and hear the roar of a water-fall. This
hill is itfelf a very fine objed:, viewed every
way, but the fimplicity of its effed; is de-
ftroyed, by being cut by a double ftripe of

Scotcb

[ IS8 ]

Scotch firs acrofs it, Xvhich varies the cc5-»
lour of the verdure, and confeqiiently
breaks the unity of the vicv/.

Another point of view from which this
part of the lake is feen to good adv^in-
tage, is from off Soulby Fell: You look
down upon the water, which fpreads very
finely to the view, bounded to the right by
the hills, which rife from the very water ;
at the other, by Dunmanlot Mill ; in fronts
by a fine range of inclofures, rifing mofl
beautifully to the view, and the water's
edge ikirted by trees, in a moft pidurefque
manner.

Dirediing your courfe under the lak^,
and landing at Swarth Fell, the next bu-
finefs fhould be to mount its height. The
lake winds at your feet like a noble river ^
the oppofite banks beautiful inclofures, ex-
quifitely fringed with trees ; arid fome lit-
tle narrow flips, like promontories, jet into
it with the moft pidlurefque effed: imagi-
nable; and at the fame time hear the noife
of a water-fall beneath, but unfeen.

Taking boat again, and failing with the
courfe of the lake, you turn with its bend,
and come into a very fine fheet of witer,
v/hich appears like a lake of itfelf. It is

under

[ '59 ]

under How town and Haw ling Fell. The
environs here are very ftriking j cultivated
inclofures on one fide, crowned with the
tops of hills ; and on the other, a woody
craggy hill down to the very water's edge.
The effedl fine.

Next you double Hawling Fell, and
come again into a new fheet of water, un-
der Martindale Fell, which is a prodigious
fine hill, of a bold, abrupt form ; and be-
tween that and Howling Fell, a little rifing
wave of cultivated inclofures, fkirted with
trees ; the fields of the fineft verdure, and
the pi6lurefque appearance of the whole
moft exquifitely pleafing. It is a molr de-
licious fpot, within an amphitheatre of
rugged hills.

Following the bend of the water under
New Cragy the views are more romantic
than in any part hitherto fecn. New
Cragy to the right, rears a bold, abrupt
head, in a flile truly fublime ; and paffing
it a little, the oppofite fliore is very noble.
Martindale Fell rifes fteep from the water's
edge, and prefents a bold wall of moun-
tain ; really glorious. In front, the hills
are craggy, broken, and irregular in (liape
(not height) like thofe of Kcjwick : They

proje<lt

i i6o i

ptojecft Co boldly to the very water, that
the outlet or wind of the water is fliut by
them from the eye. It feems inclofed by
a {hore of fteep hills and crags. From
hence to the end of the lake, which there
is fprinkled by three or four fmall iilands,
the views are in the fame ftile, very wild
and romantic. It is an exceedingly pleafing
entertainment to fail about this fine lake,
which is nineteen miles round, and pre-
fents to the eye feveral very fine fheets of
water; and abounds, for another amufe-
ment, with noble fifh ; pike to 30 /zJ.
perch to 6 /L trout to 6 3. befides many
other forts. The water is of a moft beau-
tiful colour, and admirably tranfparent.

Returning to Penrith, I took the road
to Shappi by Loivther Hally the feat of
Sir Jafnes Lowthcry Bart. The houfe (it
was burnt down not many years ago) is
not fo ftriking as the plantations, which
are defigned with much tafte, and of very
great extent. Near the road is the new
town oi LowtbeKy where Sir James is
building! a town to confift of ^00 lioufes,
for the ufe of fuch of his domefticks, and
other people, as are married : And it is
higl;ly v/crthy of remark, that he not

only

[ :6, ]

only encourages all to marry, but keeps
them in his fervice after they have fami-
lies : Every couple finds a refidence here,
and an annual allowance of coals. This is
a moll incoQiparable method of advancing
population, and confequently the good of
the nation at large \ nor can it be too
much imitated. Above forty houfes are
already erected.

The foil about Shapp is generally a loam
upon a lime-ftone, in fome places thin,
but in others deep ; letts from i s. to 20 s,
an acre ; but the inclofures generally 20 j".

Farms from 40/. to 400 /. a year.

Their courfe,

1 . Break up, and fow oats

2. Oats

3. Barley

4. Oats, and then down again.
This is execrable.

They plough but once for barley, fow
two bufhels, and gain about twenty. For
oats they give three or four ploughings,
fow feven bufhels and a half, and gain
thirty-five in return.

Good grafs letts at 20^. and 25^. an acre;
it is ufed both for dairying and fatting.

Vol.. Jir. M Inu

[ i62 ]

H??r' chiefly the latter : An acre they reckon
_.eep a cow through the fummer, or
lix Iheep. They manure it as much as
they can, but that is no great matter*
Their breed of cattle is the long-horned,
and have fatted them fo high as i '^o ftone,
but very uncommon; 60 to 80 common.

The produ<5t of a cow they reckon at 5 /.
and four gallons the common quantity of
milk per day : As to fwine, they keep
none, upon account of cows : A farmer
without a dairy has as many as thofe
who keep the largeft, which would fur-
prize a Suffolk or an Effex man. The win-
ter food of the cows is hay, in general,
but fome ftraw. Their calves for the
butcher fuck from one to ten weeks ; for
rearing, not at all, but are all brought up
by hand with milk, for twenty weeks. A
cow, in winter, generally eats an acre and
an half of hay, and they are kept in houfe.
The fummer joifl from 14^. to 40 j".

Their flocks of flieep rife from 5 to
1500. They fell no lambs, but rear them
for weathers, at from y s. to 14^. The pro-
fit, per head, of the flock, about ^s.
Keep them, both winter and fpring, on

the

t ^63 ]

the cammons : The weight of the fleeces
3 or \lb, at 3^.

They ufe two or three horfes in a plough,
and do an acre a day. The fummer joift
of a horfe varies from 10 J. to 50 J. The
price of ploughing, from 5J. to 6j. an
acre : They cut about five inches deep.

They know nothing of cutting ftraw for
chaff.

They reckon 5 or 600/. neccfTary to
flock a farm of 100/. a year: Iney are,
in general, grazing ones.

Land fells from 30 to 35 years purchafe:
There are many freeholds of from 1 00 to
300/. a year.

Tythes both gathered and compounded.
Poor rates from 6 ^. to i s. in the pound.
The employment fpinning wool, for Ken^
dal. All drink tea.

The farmers carry their corn ten miles.
The following particulars of farms will
ihew the general ceconomy.
200 acres of grafs
^.140 rent
2 horfes
60 fatting beads
T o cows

M 2 20 young

[ i64 ]

20 young cattle
700 fheep (common right)
2 men

1 maid.
Another,

100 acres in all
15 arable
85 grafs
j(^. ICO rent

2 horfes
20 cows

1 5 fatting hearts
1 5 young cattle
200 fheep (common right)
I man
I maid.
Another,

1 20 acres in all
20 arable
100 grafs

£.^1S rent

3 horfes
1 3 cows

8 fatting beafls
10 young cattle
500 fheep (common right)
I man

I maid

[ i65 ]

I maid

1 boy.
Another,

70 acres in all

5 arable
65 grafs

^,63 rent

2 horfes
10 cows

2 fatting beafts
8 young cattle
2 00 {heep (common right)
I boy
I maid.
Another,

50 acres, all grafs

£' 40 rent
I horfe

6 fatting beafts
8 cows

I o young cattle
80 flieep (common right)
I boy.

LABOUR.

In harveft, 8 ^. to 10 ^. and board.
In hay time, is, to is. 6 d. and ditto.

M 3 In

[ i66 ]

In winter, 6d, and ditto.

Mowing 3 s.

Head man's wages, 9 /.

Next ditto, 7 /. 10/.

Boy of ten or twelve years, 50 J.

Maids, 4/. to 5 /.

Women per day in harveft, 6 d. and board.

In hay time, ditto.

IMPLEMENTS,

No waggons.

A cart, 5 /.

A plough, 30J-.

A harrow, js. 6d.

No rollers.

A fcythe, 2s. 6d. to 4.(.

A fpade, 2s. 6d.

Shoeing, 2 s.

P R O V I S I O N S, ^s'c.

Bread— Oat,
Cheefe, 2ld.
Putter, yld. 20 oz.
Beef, 2d, to 2 \d.
Mutton, 2d, to 2\d.
Veal, ditto.

Pork,

[ 1^7 ]
Pork, 4.d. to 41 d.
Bacon, yd.
Milk, f d, per pint.
Potatoes, 2d. 2, peck. ,
Candles, yd.
Soap, 6 ^ ^.

Labourer's houfe-rent, 20 j-. tc 40 j',
« — — — firing, 20 s. to 70 J-.

BUILDING.

Oak, IS. /\.d,

Afh, I /. 2 ^.

Carpenter, ij. a day, and board.

Slate, ccj- a rood, brought in.

, ^. laying on and lime, 151.

Stone walling, 7 ^. a yard workmanfliip ;
and getting, 2 ^.

I took the opportunity of being at Shapp
to ride to Haws Watery a lake fome miles
to the weftward. The road thither leads
for fome diftance along the fide of a hill,
which commands an exceeding fine view of
Ponton Vale to the left. It is feveral miles
in length, of an oblong figure, all cut into
inclofures of a charming verdure, and fcat-
tered in the moft piclurefque manner with

M 4 villages.

[ i68 ]
villages, clumps of wood, houfes, bridges,
trees, &c. A fine river takes the moft
beautiful ferpentine courfe in the world
through it : The oppofite bank is a large
ridge of mountain. It is a fweet landfcape,
which brings to ones imagination the idea
of an Arcadian paradife.

The approach to the lake is very pidtu-
refque : You pafs between two high ridges
of mountain, the banks finely fpread with
inclofures j upon the right two fmall beau-
tiful hills, one of them covered with
wood; they are moft pleafingly elegant.
The lake is a fmall one, about three miles
long, half a mile over in fome places,
and a quarter in others j almoft divided in
the middle by a promontory of inclofures,
joining only by a ftreight ; fo that it confifts
of tw\) fheets of water. The upper end of
it is fine, quite inclofed with bold fteep
craggy rocks and mountains ; and in the
center of the end a few little inclofures at
their feet, waving upwards in a very beau-
tiful manner. The fouth fide of the lake
is a noble ridge of mountain, very bold and
prominent down to the waters edge. They
bulge out in the center in a fine bold pen-
dent

[ i69 ]

dent broad head that is venerably magnifi-
cent: And the view of the firrt: (lieet of the
lake lofing itfelf into the fecond among
hills, rocks, woods, &c. is pidurefque. The
oppofite fliore confiits of inclofures, rifing
one above another, and crowned with
craggy rocks.

Twelve of the fifteen miles from
Shapp to Kendal are a continued chain of
mountainous moors, totally uncultivated ;
one dreary profpeft, that makes one me-
lancholy to behold ; for the foil itfelf is
highly capable of cultivation and of profita-
ble ufes j much of it is of a good depth -,
and the fpontaneous growth proves that
the nature of the land is equal to many va-
luable ufes.

After crofling this dreary track, the firrt:
appearance of good country is moft exqui-
fitely fine J about three miles from Kendal
you at once look down from off this depi-
late country upon one of the fineft land-
fcapes in the world -, a noble range of
fertile inclofures, richly enameled with
moil beautiful verdure : And coming to the
brow of the hill have a moft elegantly pic-
ture fque view of a variegated track of wav-

ing

[ ijo ]

ing inclofures, fpreading over hills, and hang-»
ing to the eye in the moft pidturefque and
pleafing manner that fancy can conceive.
Three hills in particular are overlooked,
cut into inclofures in a charming ftile, of
themfelves forming a moft elegant land-
fcape, and worthy the imitation of thofe
who would give the embellifhments of art
to the fimplicity of nature.

Kendal is a well built and well paved
town, pleafantly fituated, in the midft of the
beautiful country juft defcribed. It is fa-
mous for feveral manufactories ; the chief
of which is that of knit ftockings, employ-
ing near 5000 hands by computation. They
reckon 120 wool-combers, each employ-
ing five fpinners, and each fpinner four or
five knitters ; if four, the amount is 2400 ;
this is the. full work, fuppolang them all to
be induftrious -, but the number is probably
much greater. They make 550 dozen a
week the year round, or 28,600 dozen an-
nually : The price per pair is from 22^.
to 6 J-. but in general from 22^. to 4/.
fome boys at \o d. If we fuppofe the ave-
rage 3 J-. or 36/. a dozen, the amount is
51,480/.

The

[ '/J ]

The wool they ufe is chiefly Leicejier-
JlnrCi TFdr'wkkJhire, and Durham : They
generally mix Leicejierjhire and Durham
together. The price % d. qd. and lo d,
per lb. They fend all the manufaiSture to
London by land carriage, which is faid to
be the longeft, for broad wheel waggons,
of any ftage in England. The earnings of
the manufacturers in this branch are as
follow :

s. d.
The combers, /^r week, - lo 6
The fpinners, women, --30
Ditto, children of ten or twelve

years, - - - 20

The knitters, - - 26

Ditto, children of ten or twelve

years, - - -20

All the work-people may have conftant
employment if they pleafe.

During the late war bufinefs was ex-
ceedingly briik, very dull after the peace,
but now as good as ever known.

The making of cottons is like wife a con«
fiderable manufad:ure in this town. They
are called Kendal cottons, chiefly for ex-
portation, or failors jackets, about lod. or

s.

^.

lO

6

4

3

3

3

[ 172 ]

I s, a yard, made of Wejlmoreland wool,

which is very coarfe, felling only at 3 d. or

4 d, pe?' lb. This branch employs three or

400 hands, particularly fliearmen, weavers,

and fpinners.

The fhearmen earn per week,

The weavers, (chiefly women,)

The fpinners, - - -

All have conflant employment. During

the war this manufacture was more brifk

than ever, very dull after the peace, and

has continued but indifferent ever flnce.

Their third branch of manufadlure is the
linfey woolfey, made chiefly for home con-
fumption, oi Wejlmorlandy Lancajhire, and
Cumberland wool; the hands are chiefly
weavers and fpinners. The firfl earn 9 j-.
or I o J", a week ; the fecond (women) 4 s,
6d. or ^ s.

The farmers and labourers fpin their
own wool, and bring the yarn to market
every week : There are about 500 weavers
employed, and from 1000 to 1300 fpin-
ners in town and country. The bufinefs
during the war was better than it has been
lince, but is now better than after the
peace.

Their

[ ^7Z ]

Their fourth manufacfture is the tannery,
which employs near lOO hands, who earn
from js. to 7 J. td. a week. They tan
many hides from Ireland.

They have likewife a fmall manufatflory
of cards, for carding cloth. Another alfb
of filk : They receive the wafte filk from
London, boil ft in foap, which they call
fcowering, then it is combed by women
(there are about 30 or 40 of them) and fpun,
which article employs about 100 hands;
after this it is doubled and drelTed, and fent
back again to London. This branch is
wpon the increafe.

PROVISIONS, &c.

Bread— oatmeal baked in thin hard cakes,

called clap-bread, cofts id. per lb.
Chcefe, 31^.
Butter, 6k d. 16 oz.
Mutton, zd. to 2 k d.
Beef, 21 d. to 3 ^.
Veal, 21 d.
Pork, 41 d.
Bacon, 6 k d.
Milk, id. a pint.
Potatoes, 10 d, four gallons.

Poor's

[ m ]

Poor's houfe rent, 30 j.
firing, 45 J-. to 50 J.

Kendal is a very plentiful and cheap
place y fat ftubble gtt^c are fold at i j. 4 d,
each * ; fat fowls at 1 s. a couple j fat ducks
the fame price -, wild fowl and game in
great plenty ; woodcocks often at 2 d. a
piece ; partridges are fold common in the
market and very cheap : Fifh in great
plenty ; trout oftentimes at a penny a pound,
befides many other forts. It is a neat well
built town.

From hence we viewed the famous lake
called Winander Meer, ten miles weft of
Kendah by much the longeft water of the
kind in England. It is fifteen miles long,
and from two miles to half a mile broad. It
gives gentle bends, fo as to prefent to the
eye feveral noble flieets of water ; and is in
many places beautifully fcattered with

* This is fo cheap, that a Living I heard of is
iiot a very fat one, 4/. a year, a pair oi wooden JhoeSi
and a Goofe-Gate. Alas, poor Redor !

All the poor in this country wear v/oodcn flioes. ^
A Goofe-Gate is the right of keeping a goofe on
the common.

iflands r

[ ^7S ]

iflands : The fhores are nobly varied, con-
fifting in fome places of fine ridges of hills,
in others of craggy rocks ; in fgrne of wav-
ing inclofures, and in others of the fined
hanging woods; feveral villages and one
market town are fituated on its hanks, and
a ferry crofles it to another; there is feme
bufinefs carried on upon it, fo that it is not
uncommon to fee barges with fpreading
fails : All thefe circumftances give it a very
chearful appearance, at the fame time that
they add to its beauty.

I would advife thofe who view this lake,
not to take the common road down to the
village o^ Bonus*, where the boats are kept,
but (^for reafons which I ftiall hereafter add)
to go thither round almoft by the ferry.
The landlord at the inn at that village keeps
a boat, and can always provide rowers for
any company that comes ; the extreme
beauty of the lake induced me to explore
every part of it with attention ; but as I

* I am fenfible throughout this Tour of mis-
fpelt names ; but many of the places I mention are
not to be found in maps, I am obliged, therefore,
to write from the ear.

have

[ .76 i

have already troubled you with feveral re^
citals of thefe water expeditions, I ihall
only mention a few of the principal points
of view, and to which I ihould particularly
recommend any traveller to row if he had
not time to view the whole lake ; but no
fcheme of this fort can be more amufing
than two or three days fpent here in
rowing, failing, hlhing, and wild duck
fhooting, all which are here to be had
in great perfedtion ; and I fliould add,
that the end of May^ or the beginning
of June, is the proper time for fuch an ex-
pedition.

Taking boat at the village, you row firft
to The IJland, fo called by way of pre-
eminence, being by much the largefl in
the lake; it contains between thirty and
forty acres of land, and I cannot but think
it the fweeteft fpot, and full of the greateft
capabilities, of any forty acres in the king's
dominions. The view from the fouth end is
very line ; the lake prefents a moft noble
Iheet of water ftretching away for feveral
miles, and bounded in front by diftant
mountains ; the {hoars beautifully indented
by promontories covered with wood, and

jetting

[ ^11 ]

jetting into the water in the moft plc-
turefque ftile imaginable, particularly the
ferry points on both fides ; it is broke
by Berkjhtre I/land y an elegant fpot,
finely wooded in one part, and by Craw
IJlandj almoft covered with wood, in an-
other, and jufl hides a houfe on the main
land.

The eaftern fhore is fpread forth with
the moft beautiful variety. In fome places
waving inclofures of corn and grafs rife
one above another, and prefent to the eye
a fcenery beyond the brighteft ideas of
painting itfelf. In others flirubby fpots
and pendent woods hang down to the very
water's edge : In fome places thefe woods
are broke by a few fmall grafs inclofures
of the fweeteft verdure j and in others run
around large circuits of them, and, rifing
to the higher grounds, lofe themfelves in
the wilds above. Here you fee flips
of land running into the lake, and co-
^yered with trees which feem to rife
from the water: There, a boldly inden-
ted fliore, fwelling into fine bays, and
fkirted with fpreading trees, an edging as
elegant as ever fancied by Claud himfelf.
The village is caught among fome icat-

Voi^ILL N tered

[ 178 ]

tered trees, in. afweet fituation., on the
bank of a bay, formed by a promontory of
wood, the back ground a fweep of inclo-
fures, riling one above another.

Following this line of Ihoar towards the
north, you command Bannerig and Oareji
Heady two hills all cut into inclofures to
the very top -, to the north you look upon
a noble range of irregular mountains, which
contraft finely with the other more beau-
tiful fhores. The weftern is a fine fweep of
craggy rocks, here and there fringed with
wood. Advancing to the very fartheft
point of land, thefe objeds are varied, and
new ones appear that are truly beautiful.
The L,ancaj1:ire ferry point and the woody
ifland join, and feem one prodigious fine
promontory of wood ; the ferry houfe i'^tvi
among the trees in a pid:urefque manner.
They form the boundary in front of a fine
bay, walled in to the right by a noble
rocky cliff ; and in the middle of it a fweet
little woody ifland. Over the low part of
the promontory the diftant hills are feen
finely. The fhore to the left, here, ap-
pears peculiarly beautiful, for half a dozen
-inclofures of the mofl: elegant verdure rife
from the water's edge among floping woods,

and

r >79 ]

and oiFer a variety of colours of the moft
pidlurefque hues. From hence likewife
you look back on Bannerig, a fine culti-
vated hill, rifing from the lake in a mod
pleafing manner.

Moving from this end of the ifland
along the weft coaft of it, the view is ex-
tremely pidlurefque. The ftreight is broke
by three iflands, two of them thickly co-
vered with wood, the other a long flip,
fcattered with tall upright trees, through
the ftems of which, and under the thick
fhade of their fpreading tops, the water is
i^ctn glittering with the fun beams -, a
landfcape truly delicious.

From the north end of this ifle, fo happy
in the beauties of profpe6t, the views are
various, and fomeof them exquifite: Look-
ing towards the fouth, you command a pro-
digious fine view of the lake, fpreading to
the right and left behind promontories, one
beyond another, in a glorioufiy irregular
flieet of water, encircled by an amphithe-
atre of hills, in the nobleft ftile. To the
north you look upon another fheet, diffe-
rent from the firft : It is broke by a clufter
of four fmall but beautiful iflands.

N 2 Full

t i8° ]

Full in front you look upon a nobk
fvveep of mountains, and on one, in par*
ticular, that is very curious : It is of a cir-
cular form, rifing out of a vaft hollow a*
mong the reft, and is overtopped by them;
romantic in the higheft degree. A little to
the right of it, you command one of the
mod noble of cultivated hills. It is inter-
fedted by hedges, trees, and fcattercd
woods, into a vafl fweep of inclofures,
which reach the very top : A view beau-
tifully magnificent. More to the right,
the eye is delighted with the moft elegant
waves of cultivated inclofures, that can be
conceived, rifing to the view in the moil
pi(5turefque varieties of landfcape, and
forcing admiration from the mofl tafteleis
of mortals. To the left, a vafl range of
rocks and mountains form the boundary of
the lake, and project into it in the boldeft
manner.

Sailing from this noble ifland to that of
Berkjhirey a little hilly wood of fcattered
trees : The views are various, rich, and
truly pidurefquc : From the north lide of
it you look upon a fine fheet of water, to
the Great IJland, &c. and bounded by a
noble variety of fliore. To the l«ft, and

in

[ .8, ]

in front, high ridges of hills and mountains:
To the right, moft beautiful waving hills
of inclofuresj fome juft rifing enough to
ihew their hedges diftin^lly, and others
hanging full to the eye j beneath, a boun-
dary of rough hills, and wild, uncultivated
ground. To the left, you fee Crow IJland,
which appears fine; and the ferry- houfCf
beneath a clump of trees, on the point of
a promontory, jetting into the water, with
an effedt really exquilite. To the eaft, you
look againft a very fine bank of inclofures,
moft elegantly fcattered with trees. To
the fouth, the lake is loft between two
promontories, proje(5ting into it againft
each other, and leaving a fine ftrait be-
tween : One is high and rocky ; the
other, a line of waving wood and inclo-^-
fures, and catch beyond it the diftant hills,
which complete the view. The weftern
profpedl is on to a range of craggy hills ;
fome moft beautifully fringed with hang-
ing woods, and cut in the middle by a cul-
tivated wave of inclofures, broken by
woods, hedges, clumps, and fcattered
trees, and rifing one above another, in the
moft pidturefque irregularity that fancy can
fuppofe, At the top, a farm-houfe, un-
N 3 der

[ i82 ]

der a clump of trees ; the whole forming
a bird's eye landfcape of the moft delicious
kind. Nor can any thing be finer than the
hanging woods on this fide of the lake,
broken by grafs inclofures of a beautiful
verdure.

Sailing acrofs the lake from Berkjlnre
to the {hore under thefe inclofures, which
are called Round Table, nothing in nature
can be more exquifite than the view, as
you move, of a fine, long, grafs inclo-
fure, at the water's edge, on the oppofite
lliore, . bounded by fine woods, except to
the lake, edged with fame fp reading trees,
through which the view of the grafs is
truly pid;urefque. Other waving flopes
of inclofures, to the right, hang to the
lake, under the fhade of a rough, wild
hill, and down to a fliirting of wood, on
the water's edge, in the fineft manner.
Behind, the rocky cliff of Fournefs Fells,
has a noble appearance, crowned with a
Iweep of wood.

. Sailing under the weflern (liore, you
command moft beautiful landfcapes on
the oppofite one, confifting of the finefl
hanks of cultivated inclofures, fcattered
v/ith trees, clumps of wood, fa^-m houfes,

&c^

[ i83 ]
&;c. and hanging to the water's edge In the
mofl charming variety of fituation; the
£elds in Ibme places dipping in the very
lake, in others thick woods rifing from the
water ; fcenes which call for the pencil of a
genius to catch graces from nature beyond
the reach of the moft elaborate art.

Coming to Ling Ho/m, a fmall rocky
ifland, with a few trees on it, you have a
double view of the two fhores, finely con-
trafted, the weftern fpread with noble
hanging woods ; and the eaftern one culti-
vated hills, waving to the eye in the finefl
inequalities of furface. The diftant hills are
alfo feen in a bold flile over the low in-
dlofures of Raw/m/ons Na^, a promontory
to the fouth.

Landing on the point of that promontory
the view is very noble, it commands two
glorious fheets of water, north and fouth,
each of four or five miles in length. That
to the fouth is bounded in general by rough
woody hills, broken in a few fpots by little
inclofures : In front of the promontory, fe-
veral very beautiful ones, cut by irregu-
lar fweeps of wood, and hanging to the
water's edge in the fincft manner ^ the
whole crowned with craggy tops of hills.
N4 But

[ >84 ]

But the view to the north is much tho
moft beautiful. Berkjhire IJland breaks the
£lieet of water in one place, and adds to the
pi6turefque variety of the fcene without in^
juring its noble fimplicity. Common Nah^
a promontory from the eaft {hore, projeds
into it in another place, elegantly variegated
with wood and inclofures, vi^aving over
iloping hiJls, and crowned with rough un-
cultivated ground. One inclofure in parti'
CuUr breaks into the wood in the moft.
pi(^urefque manner imaginable. This ead
of the lake is bounded by the noble hills of
cultivated inclofures, already mentioned,
which are viewed from hence to much ad-
vantage J they rife from the (liore with
great magnificence. To the left a ridge
of hanging woods, fpread over wild ro*
mantic ground, that breaks into bold pro*
jed:ions, abrupt and fpirited, contrailing the
elegance of the oppofite beautiful fhore iu^
the fineft manner.

Having thus viewed the mofl plealing
objeds from thefe points, let me next con-
duct you to a fpot, where, at one glance,
you command them all, in frefh iituations,
and all afluming a new appearance. For
this purpofe you return to the village, an4

taking

[ i85 1

taking the bye road to the turnpike, (not
that by which you came) mount the hill
without turning your head (if I was your
guide I would condudl you behind a fmall
hill, that you might come at once upon the
view) till you almoft gain the top, when
you will be ftruck with aftoni(hment at the
profpe(3: fprcad forth at your feet, which,
if not the moft fuperlative view that nature
can exhibit, fhe is more fertile in beauties
than the reach of my imagination will al-
low me to conceive. It would be mere
vanity to attempt to defcribe a fcene which
beggars all defcription, but that you may-
have fome faint idea of the outlines of this
wonderful pi<5lure, I will juft give the par-
ticulars of which it conlifts.

The point on which you ftand is the fide
of a large ridge of hills that form the eaftern
boundaries of the lake, and the lituation
high enough to look down upon all the ob-
jedls : A circumftance of great importance,
and vi'hich painting cannot imitate: In
landfcapes, you are either on a level with
the objects, or look up to them; the painter
cannot give the declivity at your feet, which
leffens the objeds as much in the perpendi-
cular line as in his horizontal one.

You

[ '86 ]

You look down upon a noble winding
valley of about twelve miles long, every
where inclofed with grounds which rife in
a very bold and various manner j in fome
places bulging into mountains, abrupt, wild>
and uncultivated ; in others, breaking into
rocks, craggy, pointed, and irregular : Here,
riling into hills covered with the nobleft
woods, prefenting a gloomy brownnefs of
ihade, almoft from the clouds to the reflec-
tion of the trees in the limpid water they
fo beautifully fkirt : There, waving in glo-
rious Hopes of cultivated inclofures, adorn-
ed in the fweetefl manner with every ob-
je£l that can give variety to art, or ele^
gance to nature; trees, woods, villages,
houfes, farms, fcattered with pidturefque
confufion, and waving to the eye in the
moft romantic landfcapes that nature can
exhibit.

This valley, fo beautifully inclofed, is
floated by the lake, which fpreads forth to
the right and left in one vaft but irregular
expanfe of tranfparent water. A more no-
ble objedl can hardly be imagined. Its im-
mediate flioar is traced in every variety of
line that fancy can imagine, fometimes
contradling the lake into the appearance of

a noble

[ i87 ]

gi noble winding river ; at others retiring
from it, and opening large fwelling bays, as
if for navies to anchor in; promontories
Ipread with woods, or fcattered with trees
and inclofures, projed:ing into the water
in the mod pidurcfque flile imaginable :
rocky points breaking the fliore, and rear-
ing their bold heads above the water. In
a word, a variety that amazes the be-
holder.

But what finifhes the fcene with an ele-
gance too delicious to be imagined, is, this
beautiful fheet of water being dotted with
no lefs than ten iflands, diftindly com-
manded by the eye ; all of the moll: be-
witching beauty. The large one prefents
a waving various line, which rifes from the
water in the mod pidurefque inequalities
of furface : high land in one place, low in
another; clumps of trees in this fpot, fcat-
tered ones in that ; adorned by a farm-
houfe on the water's edge, and backed with
a little wood, vycing in fimple elegance
with Boromean palaces : Some of the fmaller
ifles rifing from the lake like little hills of
wood, fome only fcattered with trees, and
others of grafs of the finefl verdure; a
fnore beautiful variety no where to be feen.

Strain

[ i88 ]

Strain your imagination to command
the idea of fo noble an expanfc of wa**
ter thus glorioufly environed -, fpotted with
iflands more beautiful than would have if*
fued from the pencil of the happieft painter.
Pi<flure the mountains rearing their ma-«
jeftic heads with native fublimity ; the vaft;
rocks boldly proje<fting their terrible craggy
points : And in the path of beauty, the
variegated inclofures of the mofl charming
verdure, hanging to the eye in every pic-
turefquc form that can grace a landfcape,
with the moft exquifite touches of /a belle
nature : If you raife your fancy to fome*
thing infinitely beyond this afTemblage of
rural elegancies, you may have a faint no-
tion of the unexampled beauties of this
raviihing lancifcape.

As I next refume intelligence of huf-
bandry with the county of Lancajiery I
fhall here conclude this letter,

I am. Sir, 0?^.

LET-

L ih ]

LETTER xvirr.

-nETURNING to Kendall took the
road to Burtcn, pafling through a
country various in relpedt of culture :
Around that town, particularly shout Ho/m^,
their foil is a light loam on a lime ftone,
withfomeof fand, letts from 6 s, 8^/. to 3/.
an acre j average about a guinea.

Farms from 20/. to 80/. a year.
As to their courfes they did not ufe t4
fallow at all, but nov^ they are,

1. Fallow

2. Wheat

3. Barley

3. Oats and then let it lie to graze
itfelf.
And,

1. Fallow

2. Wheat

3. Barley

4. Clover

5. Wheat

6. Oats

7. Barley

8. Oats,

[ 190 ]
8. Oats, and then lye as before j
for this thefe flovens defer ve to
be han2:ed.

Of wheat they fow two bufhels, about
Michaelmas J and reap from twelve to fifteen.
For barley they plough twice, fow not quite
three bufhels, about the end of April or
the beginning of May, and reckon the
average produce at twenty. They plough
but once for oats, fow four bulhels about
the time of barley foWing ; the crop twenty-
four. They cultivate fome beans, plough
once, fow two bufhels in March or April,
never hoe, but gain on an average twenty-
three bufhds. They plough once for
peafe, fow a buihel and half, and gain from
none at all to fifteen buflaels. For rye they
likewife give but one earth, fow two
bufhels ', the crop from twelve to fifteen.

They ftir twice for turneps, know no-
thing of hoeing; the average value per
acre, 5 /. or 6 /. Thomas Richard/on has
had crops that he would not take 12/. an
acre for ; but fuch extravagant prices are
not in the leaft owing to good hufbandry,
but the fcarcity of the commodity. They
ufe them for cows, flieep, ^c. &c. Clo-
ver is not very common, but they fow it

with

With barley ; they get 1 5 Cwf. of hay of^
it the firft crop, and 10 or 12 Cwt. the
fecond ; but fometimes they feed one crop.

Their culture of potatoes is as follows :
They dung the lay ground well; lay the
Dices (18 bufhels) on the dung, and then
dig trenches two fpits wide, and cover the
letts, which are laid feven inches fquare,
with the turfs and moulds that rife : If
weeds come they are drawn out by hand.
The crop, upon an average, 180 bufhels
per acre. Barley they fow after them,
and get thirty bufhels an acre. This is
the lazy-bed way.

As to manure, they can at prefent boaft
a little, for lime is in ufe among them,
but it has been only for two or three years ;
they lay 90 or loo bufhels an acre on to
fallow for wheat, cofts 4!^. perbu(he\;
they do not pare and burn ; ftack their hay
in houfes, but know nothing of chopping
their ftubbles.

Good grafs letts from 2 /. to 3 /. They
ufe it chiefiy for the dairy : An acre and a
quarter, or an acre and an half, they reckon
fufficient for the fummer feed of a cow ;
and an acre to keep four or five flieep.
Their breed of cattle is the long horned.

The

[ 192 ]

The product of a cow, 61. 6s. to y/. They
give four gallons of milk per day, on an
average. To ten cows, they keep two or
three fwine. The winter food hay and
ftraw; of the firft, about an acre and
half. The fummer joift, 35 j. A dairy-
maid, they reckon, can take care of eight
cows ', calves fuck from five to fix weeks,
both for rearing and butcher.

Sheep they reckon, I know not for what
reafon, hurtful among milch cows 5 their
flocks are from twenty to one hundred and
fifty, the profit 5 j. or 6 /. per fheep ; keep
them all the year in the field ; the medium
of their fleeces 6 of 7 /L from 3 ^. to 5 J,
per lb.

In the tillage of their lands they reckon
four horfes necefiary for fifty acres of ara-
ble land, ufc three or four in a plough, and
do three rood a day. The annual expence
of keeping a horfe they reckon 6 /. They
break up their fl:ubbles for a fallow in
March ; plough in general about five or
fix inches deep ; the common price 8 s. an
acre.

Two {hillings a day the hire of a cart
and horfe.

One

t 19:^ ]

One hundred pounds they reckon fufH-
cient for ftocking a farm of 50 /. a year.

Tythes are generally taken in kind.

Poor rates '^d. in the pound ; they fpla
flax and wool. Mod of them drink tea
twice a day.

Eftates are either large, or under 100/.
a year : Very few gentlemen of 2, 3, 4,
or 500/. a year.

The farmers do not carry their corn
above three miles.

The following flcetchcs of farms will
give an idea of their general ceconomy.
^^ acres in all
50 arable

4 horfes
10 cows
4 young cattle
2 fatting beads
I boy
I labourer.
Another,

70 acres In all
50 arable
£.65 rent
5 horfes
12 cows
Vol. III. O 2 fat-

[ 194 ]

2 fatting beads

6 young cattle
30 fheep

I man

I boy

I maid

1 labourer.
Another,

35 acres in all
30 arable
X. 3 5 rent

4 horfes

4 cows

6 young cattle

I boy

I maid.
Another,

46 acres In all
38 arable
X. 40 rent

4 horfes

6 cows

4 young cattle
20 fheep

I man.

LABOUR.

In harveft, i s. a day and board.

In hay time, ditto. In

t «9S ]

In winter, 6 d. and ditto.
Reaping per acre, Sj. to 8 j". 6 d^
Ditching, 6l d. 3. rood.
^Head-man's wages, 9/. to 10/.
^ext ditto, 6 /.

Boy of ten or twelve years, 3 /.
Dairy maid, 4 /. 4 j.
Other ditto, 50J. to 3 /. 3 j.
Women per day in harveft, 8 d. and board.
In hay time, 6 d. and ditto*
In winter, 4 d. and ditto.

IMPLEMENTS, &c.

No waggons.

A cart, 4 /. to 6 /.

A plough, 1 5 J-.

A harrow, y s, 6 d.

Few rollers.

A fcythe, 2 j. 3 d*

A fpade, 2 j. 6 ^.

Laying a fhare and coulter, 2 j,

Shoeing, u. 4<^.

PROVISIONS, &a

Bread — Oat lefs than i d.
Cheefe, 3 d.
Butter, 61 d, 18 02;,
Beef, 21 d.

O z Mutton,

[ 196 ]

Mutton, 2d,

Veal, 2 d.

Pork, ^d.

Milk, I a quart new, three quarts fkim

for \d.
Potatoes, 8 ^. a peck.
Candles, t\ d.
Soap, 6 ^.

Labourer's houfe rent, 15^. to 30 /.
firing, 2 5 J". 1030/.

Lancajler is a flourifhi ng town, well
fituated for trade, of which it carries on a
pretty brifk one ; poiTefling about 1 00 fail
of fhips, fome of them of a good burthen,
for the African and American trades ; the
only manufadlory in the town is that ot
cabinet ware; here are many cabinet-
makers, who work up the mahogany
brought home in their- own (hips, and re-
export it to the Wejl IndieSy &c. &c. It
is a town that increafes in buildings; hav-
ing many new piles, much fuperior to the
old ftreets, and handfomely raifed of white
flone and flate.

At Kabers the foil is chiefly clay, but
they have fome light loam and fome fand;
lets at an average for ij s. an acre. Farms
from 10/. to 70/. a year.

Their

[ 197 ]
Their courfe,

1. Fallow

2. Barley

3. Oats

4. Fallow

5-

Wheat

6. Beans

7. Oats.

About Cockcram they break up and fow,

1. Peafe

2. Barley

3. Oats.

For wheat they plough three times, fow
three bufhels and a half, often in February
and Marchy and get about twenty-fix in re-
turn. For barley they ftir three times, fow
three bulhels about May day, and gain
thirty in return. They give but one
ploughing for oats, fow fix bufhels, and gain
forty in return. They fi:ir but once for
beans, fow four bufhels, broad caft, the be-
ginning of Marchy and reckon the ave-
rage produce at thirty-fix bufliels. For
peafe they plough but once, fow three
bufiiels, at the time with beans ; the crop
thirty bufhels. For rye they plough thrice,
fow three bufliels, and gain four quarters ia
return.

O 3 But

[ 198 ]

But few turneps cultivated : The method
is to plough twice for them, never hoe ; the
average value 8 /. Ufe them for beafts
and fheep.

For potatoes they plough thrice, dung
the land well, and dibble them in eight or
ten inches fquare; they afterwards weed
them by hand t The crop from lOO to 200
bufnels, at from i j. to i j-. 4 ^. a bufliel :
They fow v/heat after them, and get very
fine crops, much fuperior to their com-
mon ones.

As to manures, marie is the grand one,
which is found under all this country, and
generally within fixteen or twenty inches
of the furface; it lies in beds, many of
them of a vaU: depth, the bottoms of fome
pits not being found : It is white, and as
foft and foapy as butter. They lay about
an hundred two horfe cart loads to an acre,
but fome farmers lefs, on to lays and flub-,
bles. It lafts a good improvement for
twenty years ; cods about 4 /. 10 s. an acre.
Their hay they ftack in houfes.

Good grafs letcs for 26s. an acre; is
ufed chiefly for dairying ; one acre and a
quarter they reckon enough for a cow in
fjmmer, and one acre to four flieep. They

marie

[ 199 ]

marie a good deal, and find it a fine Im-
provement, making the grafs fatten well,
and excellent for milk. Their breed of
cattle the long horned. They reckon the
profit of a cow at 4 /. and a middling one
to yield fix gallons of milk a day. The
winter food ftraw and hay, of the latter an
acre and quarter : Keep about a pig to two
cows ; and reckon a dairy maid to ten or
twelve. The fummer joifl is 30 j. keep
them in winter in the houfe.

Their fwine they fat to 4/. 10s. or 5/.
value.

Their flocks of fheep rife from twenty
to 400, having fome commons in the neigh-
bourhood ; and reckon the profit at 7 j. 6^.
or 8 J-. a head : Keep them all the year on
the commons : Their fleeces weigh, at a
medium, 3/^.

In tillage they account fix horfes necef-
fary for fifty acres of arable land ; ufe fix
in a plough, and do an acre a day. The
annual expence per horfe 4/. i^s. None
of them cut ftrav/ into chafl*. The time
of breaking up their ftubbles for a fallow
is Candlemas ; plough generally four or five
inches deep. The hire of a cart and three
horfes is 4 J. 6d. a day.

O 4 They

[ 200 ]

They reckon 150/. neceiTary for hiring
and ftocking a farm of 50 /. a year.
Tythes compounded for.
Rates 3/ in the pound. The employ*
ment of the poor women and children
Spinning flax.

Leafes are both for terms of years and
for lives.

The farmers carry their corn fourteen
miles.

The following are the particulars of
fome farms in this country.
45 acres in all
13 arable
X- 50 rent
4 horfes
4 cows

6 young cattle
3 fatting beads
12 flieep

1 man

2 maids

I labourer.
1 plough

3 carts.
Another,

62 acres in all
J 6 arable

[ 201 ]

46 grals
£,'^1 rent

5 liorfes
10 cows

8 young cattle

3 fatting bcafls
30 fheep

I man

I maid

1 boy

2 ploughs
2 carts.

Another,

70 acres in all
30 arable
40 grafs
jC- 75 rent
8 horfes
12 cows
I o young cattle
5 fatting beafls
40 fheep
I man
I boy
I maid
I labourer

3 ploughs

4 carts.

LABOUR,

I 202 3

LABOUR.

In harvefl, is. and board.
In hay time, ditto.
In winter, 6d. and ditto.
Reaping wheat, 6 s. 6 d,

' barley, 6j.

■ oats, 5J-.

beans, 6 s.

Mowing grafs, 2s. and ale.

Ditching, 6 ^. to 8 d. per rood.

Firfl: man's wages, 9/.

Next ditto, 5 /.

Boy of ten or twelve years, 40 s.

A dairy maid, 3 /.

Other ditto, 40 s. to 50 s.

Women per day in harveft, 8 d. and board.

In hay time, bd. and ditto.

In winter, 4/ and ditto.

They reckon the value of a man's board,
wafliing, and lodging, 3 j. 6 ^. a week.

I M P L E M E N T S, ef^.

No waggons.
A cart, 8 /. to 9 /.
A plough, 151.
A harrow, 1 1 j-.
A roller, 10^. 6 d.

A fcythe.

[ 203 ]

A fcythe, 2 s. t d.
A fpade, 3 s.
Laying a fhare, 8 d.
coulter, %d,

P R O V I S I O N S, ^^,

Bread — oat, iilb. for is,

Cheefe, 3</.

Butter, 8 ^. 1 6 oz.

Beef, 2\d.

Mutton, z\d.

Pork, 4^.

Milk, i^. a pint.

Potatoes, 3 ^. a peck.

Turneps, 1 1 d. ditto.

Candles, 71^.

Soap, 6 ^.

Labourer's houfe rent, 20 J.

, Firing, 20s,

Tools, loi. t)d.

Around Garfiang are feveral variations
which deferve noting. The foils are clay,
black moory, on clay, and light loam;
letts on an average at 1 7 i. an acre. Farms
irom 10 /. to 150/. a year. Their courfe,
I. Fallow

z. Wheat

3, Beans

[ 204 ]

2» Beans
4. Barley

5 Oats, and then left to graze it-
fdfy and they afiured me very gravely the
grafs was excellent: They plough thrice
for wheat, fow three bufliels a fortnight be-
fore MkhaehnaSy and reckon thirty- five
bufhels the average produce. For barley
they ftir from one to four times, fow three
bulliels^^r acre the end oi Aprils and gain
thirty bufhels an acre. For oats they
plough but once, fow feven bufhels an acre
in March i and gain on an average forty-five
bufliels. They ftir but once for beans, fow
four bulhels and a half, broad caft, both
under furrow, and above, the end of Fe^
bruary or beginning of March ; never hoc
them : They gain thirty bulliels. Sow nei-
ther peafe nor rye, and fcarce any turneps.
Clover with both barley and oats \ and ge-
nerally mow it for hay.

For potatoes they dig all the land nine
inches deep, and then dung it well 3 dibble
in the fetts nine inches afunder; reckon a
peck to let a perch of tw^enty-one feet :
They hand-weed them, and gain upon an
average three bufnels and a half per perch,

or

[ 205 ]
or 450 biiil:ie"!s/'^r acre ; after them they Tow
corn of all forts, and get great crops.

Marie is their principal manure, both
white, black, blue, fandy, and fome Ihell
marie. They fometimes find perfect cockle
and periwinkle fhells, nine yards deep, in
beds of marie. The furface is from one to
four feet of thicknefs above it : Twenty-
three fquare yards does an acre. It is
quite foft and foapy. The land will be for
€ver the better for it : It does beft on light
foils. The marie hufoandry here is to
plough three years, and let it lie three.
They find a fecond, and even a third marl-
ing, to anfwer well : The average expence
about 4/. per acre.

Lime they alfo ufe: Lay 50 windles^fr
acre, at is. 4^. pervnndXo. , and fometimes
up to 80 and iQO; the expence to 5/.
and 6/. ioj. per^cvQ; lafts generally four
or five years in great heart ; but, with very
good management, for twenty years.

Good grafs letts from 3c j-. to 35J. an
acre, they ufe it chiefly for cows, and rec-
kon an acre and a quarter fufficient for the
fummer feed of a cow, and four fheep to
the acre. They manure their paftures
with both marie and lime. The breed of

their

[ 206 ]

their cattle long horned. And it will not
here be amifs to remark, that Lancajhirc
is famous for this long horned breed, fo
that cows, which come of thorough bred
bulls (and they are very curious in their
breed) will fell at very high prices, up to
20 and 30/. a cow, if they promife well
for producing good bulls, which fometimes
fell for 100/. or 200/. a bull.

They fat their oxen to forty and fixty
Hone.

Their fwine, in common, to twenty
flone : One in particular, to thirty.

They reckon the produtft of a cow from
3 /. I o J-. to 4 /. Keep fcarce any fwine
the more upon account of their dairies.
Feed their cows in winter upon ftraw and
hay ; and reckon an acre of the latter ne-
ceiTary. The fummer joift 20 J", to 30 j.
Keep them in both field and houfe in the
winter.

Their flocks of fheep rife from twenty to
two hundred, calculate the profit at 4/. or
5 s. keep them in both winter and fpring
on the commons : The mean weight per
fleece 3 lb.

They reckon twelve or thirteen horfes
neceflary for the management of 100 acres

of

[ 207 ]

of arable land. Ufe four in a plough, and
do an acre a day. The annual expence of
keeping horfes 5/. 10 s. each. The fum-
merjoift 30 j-. to 50/. and 3J-. 6d. a week.
They break up their ftubbles for a fallow
in March; plough in general fix inches
deep. The price per acre 8 s» Know no-
thing of chopping ftraw for chaff. Hire
of a cart, three horfes and a driver, 4^. a
day.

In the flocking of farms 500/. is necefTary
to flock a grazing one of 1 50 A a year ; but
200/. fufHcient for the common ones of
100 /. a year.

Land fells at from thirty to forty years
purchafe.

Tythes both gathered and compounded
for.

Poor rates in Garftang 5^. in the pound;
in villages 2 d. They fpin cotton and fiax.
All drink tea.

But few fmall eflates.

The farmers carry their corn twelve
miles.

Many leafes for three lives \ and fome

on terms of years.

The

[ 2°8 ]

The following particulars of farms will
(hew the general oeconomy of the country.
200 acres in all
70 arable
130 grafs
£, 1 80 rent
12 horfes
1 o cows

8 fatting beafts
25 young cattle
50 flieep

2 men
2 boys
2 maids
2 labourers.
Another,

160 acres in all
60 arable
100 grafs
£. 140 rent

9 hories
15 cows

1 8 young cattle
4 fatting beads
200 fheep (common right)

1 man

2 maids

3 ^oy^

[ 209 ]

3 boys
2 labourers.
Another,

1 1 o acres in all
50 arable
60 grafs
X.85 rent
8 horfes
6 cows

15 young cattle
2 fatting beafts
26 fheep
I man

1 maid

2 boys

I labourer.

LABOUR.

In harveft, is. a. day and board.
In hay-time, 10^, and ditto.
In winter, 6 d. and ditto.
Reaping wheat, 6 s.

barley, 5 j. 6^.

— oats, 5 J-. 6 //.

beans, y s. to 8j. 6d,

Ditching, 3^. to 5^.
Firft man's wages, 10/.
Next ditto, 7 /,

Vol. Ill, P Boy

k

[ 2IO ]

Boy of ten or twelve years, 3S j.

Dairymaid, 3/. los.

Other ditto, 3 /.

Women per day. In harvefl, 6d. and board.

In hay-time, 5 ^. and ditto.

In winter, 4^. and ditto.

IMPLEMENTS, &c.

Scarce any waggons, but coming into ufe

llowly,
A cart, 1 2 /.
A plough, 20s,
A harrow, ioj.
No rollers.
A fey the, 3^. 6^.
A fpade, 3 s.
Shoeing, is, ^d,

P R O V I S I O N S, ^^.

Bread — Oat, | and id. per Ik

Cheefe, 3^.

Butter, yd, 16 oz.

Beef, 3 d.

Mutton, 3 d.

Pork, 3 d.

Candles, 6ld,

Soap, 6d,

Labourer's

[ 2" ]

Labourer's houfe-rent, 15 j. to 40 x.
' firing, 30 J.

BUILDING.

Oak timber, is. 6 J. to 3 x.

Artl, I J". 4 <r/.

Elm, I J-. 4 ^.

Soft woods, 6 J.

Mafon per day, i s. 6d. and beer.

Carpenter, ij-. and ditto.

Walling, '] d. 2i yard the workmanfhip.

From Garjlang to Wigan land letts
from 1 5 J-, to 3/. an acre, average 25 J",
and farms rife from 30 /. to 100 /. a year.

From Wigan to Warrington land from
15/. to 3/. 10 J-. and farms 15/. to 100/.
a year. At Warrington the manufadures
of fail-cloth and facking are very confi-
derable. The firft is fpun by women and
girls, who earn about 2^. a day. It is
then bleached, which is done by men, who
earn 10 s. a weeks after bleaching it is
wound by women, whofe earnings are 2x.
6d. a week; next it is warped by men,
who earn 7 j. a week ; and then ftarched,
the earnings loj-. t d. a week. The laft
operation is the weaving, in which the men
P 2 earn

[ 212 ]

earn gs, the women £s. and boys 3/. 6</.
a week.

The fpinners in the facking branch earn
6 J-, a week, women j then it is wound on
bobbins by women and children, whofe
earnings are 4^. a day; then the ftarchers
take it, they earn 6 j. a week ; after which
it is wove by men, at 9 j. a week. The
fail-cloth employs about 300 weavers, and
the facking 150; and they reckon twenty
fpinners and two or three other hands to
every weaver.

During the war the fail- cloth branch
was very brifk, grew a little faint upon the
peace, but is now and has been for fbme
time pretty well recovered, though not to
be fo good as in the war. The facking
manufacture was better alfo in the war;
but is always briik.

The fpinners never ftand ilill for want of
work ; they always have it if they pleafe ;
but weavers fometimes are idle for want of
yarn, which, conlidering the number of
poor within reach, (the fpijiners of the
facking live chiefly in CheJI:ire) is melan-
choly to think of.

Here

[ 213 ]

Here is like wife a fmall pin-manufadory,
which employs two or 300 children,
who earn from is. to 2 s. a week.

Another of fhoes for exportation, that
employs four or 500 hands (men,) who
earn 9 j. a week.

PROVISIONS, &c.

Bread — oat and barley mixed.

Butter, yl J. 16 oz.

Cheefe, 3 1 ^.

Mutton, 3<^.

Beef, 2^'

Veal, 3 J.

Pork, 4^.

Bacon, 6d.

Milk, I ^. a half pint.

Potatoes, ^i d. a peck.

Poor's houfe rent, 20 s. to 30 s.

■■ firing, 16 s.

Upon the whole thefe manufa<n:ures are
very advantageous, as they employ above
1 1,000 hands.

At Bowls, between Warrington and

Prefcot, the foils are clay and rich loam,

letts from loj-. to 25J". an acre. Farms

P 3 from

[ 214 ]

from 20 i. to 80/. a year. The*?
courfes,

1. Fallow

2. Wheat

3. Oats.
Alfo,

1. Fallow

2. Wheat

3. Oats.

4. Clover.

Of wheat they get fixteen bufhels per
acre ; oats twenty-five, and beans fixteen.
Their principal manure is marie; lay on an
acre two or three rood, at eight fquare
yards each, cofts 3/. an acre, and lafts good
feven or eight years : Ufe it chiefly for clay
foils. Lime they lay on warm dry lands,
1 2 5 bufhels per acre, cofts 3 /. 10 s. or 4 /.
They plough up their ftubbles at Candle-
mas for a fallow. The produce of a cow
they reckon at 3/.

The following are the particulars of
fome farms in this neighbourhood.

40 acres in all
12 arable
28 grafs
^.50 rent

3 horfes

[ 2's 3

3 horfes

4 cows

6 young cattle

I maid.
Another,

65 acres in all
20 arable
45 g^^^s
X.58 rent

4 horfes

6 cows

6 young cattle
20 fheep

I man

I boy

I maid.

Another,

90 acres in all
30 arable
60 grafs
^.85 rent
6 horfes
10 Cows
1 3 young cattle
20 flieep
I man
I maid
1 boy.

P4 The

[ 2i6 ]

The town of Liverpool is too famous in
the trading world to allow me to pafs it
without viewing : I wanted to be informed
of a few particulars relative to the (hipping,
imports, exports, and rife and fall of their
commerce, a little of which I gained, tho'
by no means what I wilhed. I walked
over the town for a view of the publick
buildings, &c. the following are the mi-
nutes I took.

The exchange is a quadrangular build-
ing furrounding a court, which is inclofed
by a double row of Tiifcan pillars, and over
them another of Corintkia?t ones ; but the
area is fo fnal], that it has more the ap-
pearance of a well than the court of an edi-
fice. In this building is the aflembly-room,
fixty-five feet by twenty-five, handfomely
fitted up ; but the mufic-gallery at one end
is a mere over-grown fhelf ; the common
blunder in nine alTembly- rooms out of
ten. The card room is prepofterous ; a
narrow flip of about eleven feet wide j fo
that LUlipiittan card tables muft be made
on purpofe for the room, or no paiTage re-
main around them for foedlators. From
the cupola on the top of the building is a
very fine view of the town.

The

[ 217 ]

The new church, dedicated to St. Fault
is a building that does credit to the town :
It (lands in the centre of a fquare, fo that
you may view it to much better advantage
than its namefake at London j but though
handfome in feveral refpefts, yet will it by
no means ftand fb well the telt of examina-
tion. The cupola is by no means ftriking ;
it does not rife in a bold flile -, its being
ribbed into an o6logon is difadvantageous ;
nor is there fimplicity enough in the lan-
tern. There is a great heavinefs in the
breadth of the fpace between the capitals
of the pillars and the cornice. Within
there is a central circular area of forty feet
diameter, inclofed by pillars of the Ionic
order : There is much lightnefs, and a
limple elegance in it that is pleafing; but
all hurt by the abfurdity of the fquare cor-
nices above the pillars, which projed: fo
much as to be quite difgufling. This
church was raifed at the expence of the
parifli, and coil i 2,000 /.

But the glory of Liverpool is the docks
for the flipping, which are much fuperior
to any mercantile ones in Britain : One
very fine new one, of a circular form, is
finiihcd, and defended by a pier, all excel-
lently

[ 2-8 ]

lently well faced with flone, and pcrfcdly
fecure from ftorms. Out of this is an en-
trance into another, called the New Dock,
now executing, of a large lize, capable of
containing feveral hundred fail, and faced
in the fame manner all round with large
ftone : Out of this is to be a palTage into
another very capacious one, called the Dry
Pier, and this again leads into two others,
called the Old and South Docks-, and like-
wife has an entrance by the river from the
fea : Into this like wife open three very
noble docks for building large fhips, admi-
rably contrived. Thefe three, Dry Pier,
and 0/d and South Docks, are all totally
furrounded by the town, fo that fhips of
4, 5, 600, and fome of 900 tons bur-
then, lay their broad fides to the quays,
and goods are hoifted out of them, even
into many of the warehoufes of the mer-
chants.

A little out of the town is a very pretty
new walk, fpread on one iide with fmall
plantations, and looking on the other down
upon the town and river : A cofFee-houfe,
l^c, built new upon it : It is lately done,
and a good improvement.

There

[ 219 ]

There is a manufacture of porcckne ^it
this place, which employs many hands j
the men earn in it from 'js. to los. a week.
Likewife a {locking manufactory, in which
they earn from 7 j. to 9 j-. Alfo two glafs-
houles, in which the earnings are 9 j. or
loj". a week.

Poor rates in Liverpool i s. in the pound.

Land, five miles round it, letts, at an
average, at 3 1 j. 6^. per acre.

They fuppofe the number of inhabitants
to be near 40,000.

PROVISIONS, ^c.

Bread, i\d.

Butter, 8 ^. 1 8 oz,

Cheefe, 31^.

Beef, 2\d.

Mutton, 3i ^.

Veal, 4^.

Pork, 4^.

Bacon, 7 d.

Milk, \d. a pint.

Potatoes, 3 ^. a peck.

Candles, 7 \ d.

Soap, 'j\d.

Poor's houfe rent, 2.0 s, t0 30j.

firing, 1 5 J. to 20 s.

The

[ ^20 ]

The trade of Liverpool increafed regu-
larly during the whole courfe of the war,
and was at its height when the new regu-
lations of the A?nerican trade took place :
The flopping the trade with the Spaniards
in America, with fome other meafures at
that time relative to the Colonies, gave a
blow to the commerce of this town, which
£he has not recovered -, fo that they- have
lince been, and are now, much upon the
decline : A great number of ihips are laid
by in the harbour, and a general languor
foread over their whole trade.

The hufbandry around Ormjkirk, parti-
cularly about Halfaliy is as follows : The
foil is in general a fandy loam ; letts, upon
an average, at i ^ s. per acre. Farms from
5 /. to 100 1, a year, but chiefly about 40/.
Their courfe is,

1. Break up the ground, and fowOats

2. Barley

3. Wheat

4. Oats

5. Vetches

6. Barley

7. Clover three or four years, and

then comes to grafs of itfelf,
and very fine grafs it muft be.

They

[ 221 ]

They plough five times for wheat, low
a budiel and half, and reap from twenty-
five to thirty-five buihels. For barley they
plough thrice, fow two bufliels and an half,
and get about twenty in return. They iHr
but once for oats, fow four bufliels ; the
crop twenty. For beans they give three
earths, fow two bufhels and half, broad
caft, never hoe them, and get upon an
average about thirty. They ufe very little
rye or peafe. Their clover they reckon
more profitable than corn, get very great
crops.

They ufed always to dig for potatoes,
but have of late changed that method for
ploughing : They fet them upon both
grafs and tillage land, but always dung
well. The foil they prefer is the light
fandy. They lay the dices in the furrows
after the plough, fo as to come up about
nine inches afunder every way ; while
growing they hand weed them. A com-
mon crop is 150 bufliels -, and a good acre
worth 10/.

The principal manure ufed here is marie,
v/hich they lay upon the fandy foils ; it
cofts about 3 /. an acre, and lails good for
twenty years ; improves beft for wheat and

oat.^.

[ 222 ]

oats. They ftack their hay in the farm
yards, but knov/ nothing of chopping the
corn ftubbles.

Good grafs letts at 30 ;. an acre ; they
ufe it both for fatting, dairying, and breed-
ing ; two acres they reckon neceifary to
fummer a cow; never manure their grafs.

They reckon the product of a cow at
5 /. give upon a medium fix gallons of
milk a day. They keep about two or
three hogs to ten. The winter food is hay
and ftraw, of the firft about 120 ftone (20/^.
each) is fufficient; and have it in the houfe
all winter. The calves they bring up by
hand, one month for the butcher, and two
months for rearing. They reckon a dairy-
maid can take care of ten cows. The fum-
mer joift is 20 r.

The flocks of fTicep rife from twenty to
an hundred ; the profit per head 10 j. They
keep them all winter and fpring upon grafs.
The average weight of the fleeces about
2 Ih.

in their tillage they reckon fix horfes
neccffary for an hundred acres of arable
landj ufe two or three in a plough, and
do an acre a ilay. The annual expence^^r
horfc 5/- The fummer joift 40 j. They

break

[ 223 ]

break up the ftubbles for a tallow in Fc'-
bruary or },Lircb ; the common price ter
acre of ploughing 4 /. to 5 s. They llir
Iix inches deep.

They know nothing of cutting ilra\^
into chart^*.

The hire of a cart, three horfe.s and a
driver per dav is 5 y.

In the hiring and llocking of farms thev
reckon 150/. futhcient for one of 50/. a
yeur.

Land fells from thirty to forty years pur-
chafe. No little ellates.
Tvthes are taken in kind.
Pcx^r rates 6 d, in the pound : The em-
ployment Ipinning cotton. Some of thv^in
drink tea.

The tarmers carry their corn feven or
eight niiles.

Leafes run in general on terms of vear?,
icven, fourteen, or twenty-one ; but fomc
on three lives.

The general avonomy \vill be feen from
the following ikctches :
400 acres in all
100 arable

/^. 200 rent

J'O I\OltCS

[ 224 ]

20 horfes
30 cows
30 young cattle
I o fatting beails
40 flieep

4 men

2 boys

2 maids

2 labourers

4 plo'ighs

2 carts*
Another,

60 ac-es in aH
20 arable
40 grafs
j^. 120 rent (it is near the town)

3 horfes
15 cows

I o young cattle
I man
I maid
I plough
I cart.
Another,

60 acres in all
20 arable
40 grafs
£. 50 rent

3 horfes

[ 225 ]

3 horfes

6 cows

I o young cattle

3 fatting beafts

2o flieep

I man

I maid

I plough

1 cart.

Another,

135 acres in all

70 arable

65 grafs

^.95 rent

8 horfes

20 cows

6 young cattle

40 fheep

2 men

2 boys

2 maids

2 labourers

3 ploughs

3 carts.

LABOUR.

in harveft, i s.

In hay time, 8 c/.

Vol. III. Q_

In

[ 226 ]

In winter, lod, (this they fay is becaufe

the work is fo much harder.)
Mowing grafs, is. 3^.
Ditching, 8^. to u. a rood.
Thrashing wheat, 3^^. a bulhel.

— barley, 2 d.

oats, lid,

beans, 2 d.

Head man's wages, 7/.

Next ditto, 5 /.

Boy of ten or twelve years, 30 /.

Dairy maids, 3 /.

Other ditto, 2 /. 10 j.

Women per day in harveft, i s.

In hay time, 8 d.

The value of a man's board, wafhing, and

lodging, 9/.

I M P L E M E N T S, ^^.

No waggons.
A cart, 4 /.
A plough, 20 J.
A harrow, los.
No rollers.
A fcythe, 3 j,
A fpade, 3 s.
Shoeing, is, 4 d.

BUILD-

t 227 ]

BUILDING.

Bricks, per thoufand, i o x.
Oak, I s.

Malbn, per day, 2 jr.
Carpenter, 2 s.

Farm houfes of brick and flate.
In the parifli are,
2000 acres
100 farms
^. 2000 rent
>C. 50 rates
j^. 25 highways
^^ labourers
20 poor
200 horfes
400 cows
200 fheep
100 fatting beafts.

On the weftern fide of Halfcll, near the
fea, hes about 1000 acres of boe, called
Halfell'Mofs, which about thirty years ago
was not on an average worth i d, an acre :
Turfs were dug out of part of it for burn-
ing. Mr. Edward Segar, of Earton-Houfe,
who pofTeiTed a confiderable part of it, be-
gan the improvement of it, which has
Q^ fince

f 228 ]

fince been condudted by Mr. Parke oi Li-
verpool,

It was fo very foft that no cattle could go
on it during the greateft part of the year;
for which reafon the firft bufinefs was
draining. It was for that purpofe divided
into fields of about two acres each, by
ditches five feet wide at top, three feet
deep, and three feet wide at bottom ; the
digging thefe cuts coil j\.d. per rood.

In about a year the ditches were half
clofed up j and all cleaned out again. Then
another year elapfed before any further im-
provement was undertaken : This time was
given it for a gradual draining, that the
furface might be tolerably firm for the
bearing of men and horfes.

At the end of the fecond year it was
confolldated enough to bear men for paring
and burning it, which was performed in
winter, two or three inches deep. The
paring coft js. per acre, and the burning
IS. td.

After this it was ploughed with one
horfe in boots, lliod with boards of an
oval fliape, eighteen inches wide, which
enabled the horfe to move fecurely upon
the bog. The turfs raifed by this plough-
ing

[ 229 ]

ing were alfo burnt ; for the firft paring is
often of fo puffy a nature as to afford
fcarce any aihes ; but the fecond, coming
after a greater confolidation, apd the plough
cutting fo much deeper than a man, the
afhes are more in quantity and of a better
nature. This fecond burning was performed
the beginning ol Augiifi.

The allies were ploughed in immedi-
ately, quite hot, to the depth of about
three or four inches, and upon that one
earth, without any harrowing either before
or after, rye was fown the beginning of
SeptembeKy near a bufliel to the acre, which
generally produced about twenty-five in
return.

This rye was off the land time enough
for another burning of the old furrows,
which cofi; about 3 s. an acre ; after which
it was again ploughed, and fown with rye
^s before, and the crop nearly the fame.

With this fecond crop of rye much na-
tural grafs came, which was left to itfelf
for three years, but kept paffured by cat-
tle, and turfed very well.

In the April after thefe three years, it

was ploughed as at firff with one horfe, and

the furrows burnt; then it was ftirred a

Q_3 fecond

[ 23= ]
iecond time and fown with oats, four
bushels per acre, and the crop was near
thirty. After they were cleared from the
land, it was burnt again ai in the former
coL.fe, ar.d after a ploughing, a fecond crop
of oats fown, that yielded much the fame
is the lift. The grafs again coming of it-
felf, it was left to graze for four years, and
was a very good pallure.

This was the general management :
Taking two crops of rye or oats, and then
letting it lye in grats for three or four years,
and always breaking up with burning :
And in this management feveral hundred
acres were and are adjudged bv a many
farmers, to be worth from -js. t d. to i z s.
per acre.

As the rye is fown without harrowing, it
fhould be while corn is plentiful in the field,
that vermine may have no particular temp-
tation to attack it.

This fyftem of management has been
found, on experience, to be \trj- advantage-
ous ; it would be, therefore, impertinent to
prelcribe, for fach a peculiar foil, any im-
provements; but I cannot avoid remarking,
that if grafs feeds were fov/n with the fe-
cond corn crop, tht fucceeding paihirage

wouic

[ =--' 1

would probably be much better. The
pablic is, hovrerer, much indebted to theie
^ntlemen tor the diicovery.

Reruniing to JF^rri^^t:?:, I icc^ tr.e
road to ^I'.^r-OTrf'^rw ; the country of vir.: . r
ibil<, but chiedy loam and imd ; letts it: :.
1 -^ s. to. 22 J*. /:rr acre. Abcut that pLsce
it is chienv iandy and icme day, and light
loom ; letts trcm i ; / . to 2^ s. an acre.

Farms from 20/. a vear to 30c /. Ths
coune of crops

1. Fallow

2. Wheat

3. Cats

4. Clever tbr dixerent terms*
Thev rIoc;?h three or four times ibr

wheat, low two bolh^ a fortnight or three
weeks before Mh-imefmar, and reckon the
avenge produce at thirty buihels. Per
barlev thev plough thrice, low four buihels
the beginning cf 3/-^, and gain in return
about thirt\*-three at a medium. For aits
thev give but cne ploughing, low four
buihels and a half the beginning ct M^rscy
and ^t about fom-nve at a medium.
Thev give two or three e.:"*' ' ' " :^eanf,
dibble them in, three buil.. "^ -it

iis bvhes aiunder, and hand \^-eed them
O vhi';;

[ ^32 ]
while growing; the crop forty bufhels-
They fow wheat after them, and get good
crops. For peafe they alfo plough twice
or thrice, dibble them as beans, and hand
weed them ; the crop about three quarters.

But few turneps are cultivated ; fuch as
do fow them, plough the land three or four
times J no hoeing, but the crop is thinned
by hand for ferving the markets. Average
value from 4 /. to i o /. an acre. Ufe them
for all forts of cattle. Clover they fow
with barley and oats, ufe it chiefly for hay,
of which they get two tons per acre at a
mowing. Tares they fow for hay, and get
four loads an acre, three-horfe cart loads,
worth 20 s. a load, and fallow after them
for wheat. Buckwheat they have fown
for a drefling for wheat, by ploughing it
in, and find it does beft on dry fandy land.

They dig for potatoes generally- after
oats, dunging the land well ; they dibble
the felts in, twenty-two bufhels do an acre.
Some hand-weed them while growinp-;
others hand-hoe them. The crop about
^zocwL per acrQ,{i2o/.^. each;)fome twice
as much. Mr. Thomas WnrhnrtoUy oi Al-
tringbam, made for fome years 2^ I. z year
from one acre of land by potatoes. They

low

t 233 ]

f()w wheat or barley after them, and are
line of a great crop.

Marie is their great manure ; they have
it of all forts, red, white, blue, black, and
brown ; they reckon it does bell on the
ground it is under; lay from twenty-four
to forty fquare yards on an acre. Upoii
clay they lay thirty-two ; upon fand forty ;
and upon bog the fmie. It cofls about
I J-. a yard. It will be an Improvement in
fome meafure for ever, if not kept too long
in tillage. They have found from expe-
rience, that it anfwers well to marie
twice.

Lime they alfo ufe both upon clay and
fand, but does bed upon the former : They
lay on an acre eighty or an hundred loads,
at ten pecks each. Another and excellent
way of ufing it is, to plant potatoes upon
the fluff thrown out of their ditches, and
afterwards mix it up with lime. It coib
1 s. a load thirteen miles off. Their boggy
land they pare and burn. They buy dung
at Mancheftcr at from \d. to 7/ a ton,
but agree for it in the lump. They flack
their hay at home.

Good grafs jetts at 30 i. an acre ; they
apply it both to fluting and dairying ; and

reckon

[ 234 ]
reckon that an acre is fufficient to keep a
cow through the fummer ; but they both
dung and marie it. Their breed of horned
cattle is the long horns, fat them from
thirty to fifty ftone. The produdl of a
cow they reckon at 5/. loj". and the ave-
rage quantity of milk five gallons a day.
They do not keep above two or three hogs
to twenty-fix cows. When dry, the winter
food is ftraw ; but near and after calving,
hay and ground oats ; of the firfl about
one half or three quarters of an acre. The
calves do not fuck above two or three
weeks for the butcher ; but for rearing
all are brought up by hand. A dairy-maid
ufually takes care of feven or eight cows,
The fummer joiil is 30J. In the win-
ter they are kept in the houfe.

Hogs they fat up to twenty-fivt?
flone.

The flocks of fheep are not many near
the town, but at a fmall diftance they rife
from twenty to two hundred ; the profit
they calculate at 10 s. a head. The winter
fpring food is a few turneps, but in gene-
ral grafs alone. The average of fleeces
about 4i7^.

In

[ ^35 ]
In their tillage they reckon fix horfes
necefTary for one hundred acres of arable
land : They ufe three or four in a plough,
and do an acre a day. They calculate the
whole annual expence fer horfe at 4/. i6j-.
The fummer jpift 40 j. The price per
acre of ploughing is 5 J. 3 d. and the time
of breaking up their ftubbles for a fallow,
after the barley fowing. The general depth
live inches.

They know nothing of cutting ftraw
into chaff.

The hire per day of a cart, three horfes,
and a driver, 5 s.

In the hiring and flocking of farms, they
reckon that, with particular management,
a man may ftock one of 100 /. a year for
200/. but that for 300/. many fuch are
taken. That fum they divide in the foU
lowing manner :

Twenty beafls, - - ^^.120

Five horfes, - - 40

Forty {heep, - - 16

Pigs - - - 2

Harnefs,

[ 236

]

Harnefs,

Chains,

0

7

0

Backhand,

0

5

0

Bellyhand,

0

I

0

Halms,

0

3

0

Collar,

0

7

0

Halter,

0

3

0

1

6

0
5

—

.—

—

6 10

Two road carts.

-

H

Three home ditto.

-

12

Sundry fmall implements

>>

-

4 IQ

Two ploughs.

-

2

Harrows,

-

4

Roller,

-

I

Houfe-keeping,

-

3^

Labour,

-

35

Seed,

-

20

>Cv307

Land fells at thirty years purchafe. Many
eftates of 2 or 300/. a year.

Tythes are generally gathered ; poor
rates from is. td. to is. td. in the pound ;
their employment fpinning flax and wool.
All drink tea.

The

[ m ]

The farmers carry their corn eight miles.
Leafes run from feven to fourteen years ;
fome for three lives.

The general oeconomy of the country
will be feen from the following fketches
of farms.

40 acres in all
10 arable
30 grafs
jT. 40 rent
2 horfes
7 cows

2 young cattle
I boy

1 maid

2 carts

2 ploughs.
Another,

200 acres in all
100 arable
1 00 grafs
^.300 rent
I o horfes
26 cows

5 fatting beafts
20 young cattle
60 flieep
3 men

2 boys

i 238 J

£ boys
2 maids

2 labourers

1 waggon
4 carts

3 ploughs.
Another,

no acres in all
40 arable
70 grafs
£. 90 rent

4 horfes
15 cows

2 fatting beafls
8 young cattle

20 fheep
I man
I boy
I maid

1 labourer

2 carts

2 ploughs.
Another,

87 acres in all
40 grafs
47 arable
^.72 rent
4 horfes
6 cows

3 fatting

[ 239 ]

3 fatting beafts
1 o young cattle
30 Iheep

I boy

I maid

1 labourer

2 carts

1 plough.

LABOUR.

In harveft, is. 3^. or is. and beer.

In hay time, i s. and beer.

In winter, 10 d.

Reaping wheat, per acre, 3 i. to 4 s,

barley, 4J-. to ^s,

' oats, 3 J-, to 4 s.

"■— beans, 4 j. 6d.

Mowing grafs, i.f. 6d* to 2s. 6a.

Ditching, 5 J. to 8 d.

Thrafhing wheat, is. 2d. per five bufliels.

-barley, i\d. per bulhel.

— oats, IJ-. 6d. or 2s. per 20 meafures.

■" ■■ — beans, is. per five bufhels.
Digging, 8 d. per rood.
Head-man's wages, 6 /. to 10/.
Next ditto, 5 /.

Boy of ten or twelve years, 40 J.
Dairy maid, 4 /, to 5 /*

Other

[ 240 ]

Other ditto, 2/. to 3 I.

Women per day in harveft, \s, and beer,

In hay time, 8 d. and ditto.

Value of a man's board, wafhing, and lodg-
ing, T^s. 6 d. a week.

IMPLEMENTS, ^c.

Few waggons.

A cart, 8 L

A plough, 20 J-.

A harrow, 25 j.

A fcythe, 2 j". 6 ^. to 3 /*

A fpade, 4 j.

Shoeing, iJ". 4^.

P Pv O V I S I O N S, &c.

Bread — wheat and barley mixed.

Cheefe, 3I ^. per lb.

Butter, yd, 18 oz.

Beef, 2d. to 2 1 d.

Mutton, 3 d.

Veal, 3f^.

Pork, 31^.

Bacon, 7 ^.

Milk, new, f ^./»^r pint, fkim, | /»?r quart.

Potatoes, 4J". 6 ^. />£'r iiilb.

Labourer's houfe rent, 30 j.

— Firing, 2oj'.

BUILD-

[ 241 ]

BUILDING.

'Bricks, per thoufarid, from 8j. 6^. to 20 s.

Oak timber, 8 ^. to 2 s.

Afh ditto, 8^.

Mafon per day, i j-. 6 d.

Carpenter ditto, is. 6 d,

I forgot to tell you, that one or two fen-
fible farmers in this neighbourhood have
of late come into the way of making hol-
low drains for the improvement of their
wet lands. They dig them from two feet
to three or four deep, fet two bricks on edge
along the bottom, and lay another over
them in this manner, PI. IV. Fig. i. They
are then filled up with the moulds.
The digging, laying, and filling coft 4^.
a rood.

From Aitringham I took the road to
Manchejier, with defign, not only to
view the manufactures of that town,
but to make it my head quarters from
thence to go the tour of his Grace the
Duke of Bridg'UDaters navigation, about
which fuch wonders are abroad ■■, if only
half are true, I fliall be not a little en-
tertained.

Vol. hi. R The

[ 242 ]

The Manchejier manufadures are divid-
ed into four branches.
The fuftian
The check
The hat

The worded fmall wares.
All thefe are fubdivided into numerous
branches, of didindt and feparate work. In
that of fuftians are thirteen.
y<°. I. Corded dhnities
2. Velvets
?. Velverets
4. Thlckfets
_5. Pillavvs
6. Quilts
n. Petticoats

8. Draw-boys

9. Diapers

10. Herringbones
1 I . Jeans

12. Jeanets

13. Counterpanes.

Thefe goods are worked up of cotton

alone, of flax and cotton, and of Ham-

horoiifrh yarn. All forts of cotton are

ufed, but chiefly the JVeJi Indian, Thefe

• branches employ men, women, and chiV-

dren.

In

[ 243 ]
in the branch N^. i . Men earn fiom 3 j.
to 8 s. week.
Women the l^ime.
No children employed In it.

2. Men from 5 s. to jos.
Neither women or children.

3, and 4, Men from 5 j. to 10 s. ave-

rage 5 J-. 6 ^.
Women as much.
Children 3 s.

5. Men from /\.s. to 5 j-.
Women the fame.
Children 2 s. 6 c/.

6, and 7. Men from 6 s. to 12 j.

Neither women or children.

8. Men, at an average, 6 j-. but a boy

paid out of it.
No women.

9. Men from 4 j-. to 6 s.
Women as much.
No children.

10. All children, i j-. 6 d,

1 1 . Men from 4 s. to 10/.
No women or children.

1 2. Women i j. 6 ^. to 3 j-. 6 J.
Children the fame.

13. Men from 3/. to ys.
Neither women or children.

R 2 Thefc

[ 244 ]

Thefe branches of manufadure worfc
both for exportation and home confump-
tion : Many low priced goods they make
for North Afnerica, and many fine ones for
the Weft Indies. The whole bufinefs v/as
exceedingly brifk during the war, and very
bad after the peace ; but now are pretty
good again, though not equal to what they
were during the war. All the revolutions
of late in the North America?! affairs are
felt feverely by this branch. It was never
known in this branch that poor people ap-
plied for work but could not gtt it, except
in the ftagnation caufed by the ftamp adt,

I enquired the effeds of high or low
prices of provifions, and found that in the
former the manufadurers were induftrious^
and their families eafy and happy 3 but that
in times of low prices the latter ftarved -,
for half the time of the father was fpent at
the ale-houfe. That both for the good of
the mafters, and the working people, high
prices were far more advantageous than
low ones: And the highefl: that were ever
known much better than theloweft.

All in general may conftantly have work
that will : And the em.ployment is very re-
gular : The mailer manufacturers not flay-

. ins

[ 245 ]

ing for orders before the people are fet to
work, but keep, on the contrary, a great
many hands in pay, in expedtation of the
fpring orders.

The principal fub-divifions of the check
branch are the folio win jr.

N°. I. Handkerchiefs.

2. Bed ticking.

3. Cotton hollands.

4. Gowns.

5. Furniture checks.

6. Silk and cotton ginghams

7. Soufees.

8. Damafcus's.

9. African goods, iw imitation of

the Eajl Indian,
Thefe branches employ both men, wo-
men, and children 5 their earninf^s as
follow.

N°. I. Men 7 J.

Women j s.
Children 2J-. to 51.

2. Men 6i. to ioj-.

Neither wom.en or children.

3. Men ^ s.
Women. 7 J".

Children a few, 2 x. to 5 s,

4. Mwii 8 J-.

P- 3 Neither

[ 2^6 ]

Neither women or children.

5. Men 7 s.
Women 7 s.
No children.

6. Men y s. 6 d.

Neither women or children,

7. Men ys. t d.

Neither women or children.

8. Men ys.ed.

Neither women or children.

9. Men from 6 s. to 9^".
W'omen the farne,
No children.

Moil of thcfe articles have rnany pre^
parers; among others.

Dyers at 7J. 6 d.

Bleachers 6 s. 6d^

Finiihers y s. 6 i/,
The check branch, like the fuftian,
works both for exportation and home con-
fijmption, but vailly more for the former
than the latter. During the war the de-
mand was extremely brifk ; very dull upon
the peace, but lately has arifen greatly,
though not equal to the war j and the in-
terruptions caufed by the convulfions in
America, very feverely felt by every work-
man in this branch : None ever offered for

\\'0rk

[ 247 1
work but they at once had it, except upon
the regulations of the colonies cutting off
their trade with the SpiUiiardsj and tiie
flamp adt. The lall: advices received from
America have had a fimilar effedl, for many
hands were paid off in confequence of
them.

In the hat branch the principal fub-diyi^
fiojis are,

J. Preparers.

2. Makers.

3. Finifhers.

4. Liners.

5. Trimmers.

They employ both men, women, and
children, whofe earnings are fomevvhat
various.

N^ I. No men.

Women, 3J. 6d, to js.
No children.

2. Men -JS. 6d,
No women.
Children, 2 s. 6 d. to 6s.

3. Men, 12J-.
No women.
Children, ys. 6d.

4. lio men.

Women, 4 J", to j ;. 6d.

R 4 ChiU

[ 248 ]
Children, 2s. 6 ^. to 6 j.
5. No men.

Women, 4 j. toy s, 6 d.
Children, 2 j. (id. to 6 j-.
This branch works chiefly for exporta^--
tlon; during the war it was furprizingly
brifk ; after the peace quite low ; lately it
has been middling.

In the branch of fmall wares are nume-
rous little articles, but the earnings in ge-
neral run as follow :

Men from 51. to \is.
Women from 2 j. 6 d. to y s.
Children from is. 6 d. to 6 j-.
The number of fpinners employed in,
and out of Manchefter is immenfe; they
reckon 30,000 fouls in that town ; and,
50,000 manufacturers employed out pf it.
Cotton fpinners earn.
Women, 2 j. to 5 s.
Girls from fix to twelve years, is, to
\s. 6d,
In general all thefe branches find, that
their befl: friend is high prices of provifions:
I was particular in my enquiries on this
head, and found the fentiment univerfal :
The manufadurers themfelves, as well as
their families, are in fucli times better

cloathed.

[ 249 ]
cloathed, better fed, happier, and In eafier
circumftances than when prices are low ;
for at fuch times they never worked fix
days in a week ; numbers not five, nor
even four ; the idle time fpent at alehoufes,
or at receptacles of low diverfion ; the re-
mainder of their time of little value ; for
it is a known fadl, that a man who fi:icks
to his loom regularly, will perform his
work much better, and do more of it, than
one who idles away half his time, and
efpeclally in drunkennefs.

The mafter manufadlurers of Manchejler
wifh that prices might always be high
enough to enforce a general induftry , to
keep the hands employed fix days for a
week's work; as they find that even one idle
day, in the chance of it's being a drunken
one, damages all the other five, or rather
the work of them. But at the fame time
they are fenfible, that provifions may be too
high, and that the poor may fuffer in fpite
of the utmoft induftry 5 the line of fepo/-
ration is too delicate to attempt the draw-
ing : but it is well known by every mafter
manufacturer at Manchejler, that the work-
men who are induftrious, rather more fo
than the common run of their brethren,

have

[ 250 ]

have never been in want in the highcfl:
of the late high prices. Large families
in this place are no incumbrance ; all are
fet to work.

America takes three-fourths of all the
manufacflures of Manchejier.

I am obliged to Mr. Archibald BelU of
St, Amis Square y and iMr. Hamiltoiiy two
of the principal manufa(5turers in the town,
the firlt in the fuftian branch, and the lat-
ter in the check, for the heads of the pre*-
ceding intelligence. Had I been fortu-
nate enough to meet v/ith gentlemen
equally knowing, and obliging, at many
other manufadturing towns, I fhould have
been able to give a much better account of
them ; but the fuccefs of fuch undertak-r
ings as this Tour, mufl: depend, in a good
meafure, on the people one meets with.

To-morrow begins with the Duke of
Bridgwater y I dial I therefore conclude this
long epiftle, by affuring you, that I fliall
?ver remain, ^c. &c.

LETTER

[ 25' ]

LETTER XIX.

^T^ M E original dcfign of the Duke of
Bridgwater, was to cut a canal from
y/orjleyy an cRate of his Grace's, abound-
ing with coal-mines, to Manchejiery for
the eafy conveyance of his coals to fo con-
fiderable a market; and, in 1758-9, an
Act of Parliament for that purpofe was
obtained. The courfe of the canal pre-
fcribed by this act, was afterwards varied
ty the fame authority, and the Duke fur-
ther enabled greatly to extend his plan ;
for he now determined, and with uncom-
mon fpirit, to make his canal brarjch not
only from JVorf.ey to Manchejiery but alfo
from a part of the canal between both, to
Stockport and Liverpool. The idea was a
noble one, and ranks this fpirited young
pobleman with the moft ufctul genius's of
this or any age. But the execution of fo
great a plan teemed with difficulties that
required a perpetual exertion of abilities
fertile in refources.

The firft point in viewing this naviga-
tion, is to fend froni Mancbtjler to JVorjleyy

to

[ 252 ]

to fpeak for a boat, to carry your party
the whole tour : (By the bye, it is a ftrange
affair that the town of Manchejler does
not poffefs a boat for the accommodation
of its own inhabitants, and ftrangers who
come to fee it : For want of one, you may
very probably wait a day or two :) And in
the mean time you may employ yourfelf in
viewing the works at Matichefter : This
was my plan. And it will not be amifs if
you afk for Mr. Mac-fomethingy — Maclean,
I think i the principal man that delivers
the coals : He is a fenlible, intelligent
fellow, and will fhew and explain every
thing here.

The head of the navigation forms two ter-
minations, marked A and B, in the annexed
plan, Plate IV. Fig. 2. The firft is, a com-?
mon wharf for the landing of coals out of
large barges, for the fupply of carts and wag-
gons. The fecond is a fubterraneous canal,
arched over, into which long but narrow
boats enter, being of a conftrudlion fitted for
a peculiar purpofe elfewhere. This fubter-
raneous palTage extends from C to D.

At E, in the roof of the arch turned over
this water, is a well, bricked like common
ones, which is funk from the ground above j

(iV. B.

c

(/V. B. It is much higher than the level of
the water, being fomewhat of a hill;)
upon which, and near the mouth of this
well, is erected a crane of a new construc-
tion, which turning upon a pivot, is brought
at pleafure over the well, and draws up
the coals. G.

The boats are filled with fquare boxes, fit-
ted in exadly ; thefe are filled with coals,
(each contains eight hundred weight) at
the mine, for the convenience of being
eafily landed through this well ; they
therefore enter the fubterraneous canal,
and move on, until they come under the
well ; there they ftop, and the ropes,
which are fixed to the crane above, being
let down with hooks, at the end are
faftencd to the boxes, (which are ironed
for that purpofe) and then drawn up.

The power of this crane is that of a water
wheel, contrived in a very fimple manner — ■
the beft way of explaining it will be by a lit-
tle fketch, Plate IV. Fig. 3. But remark,
that I only draw this from idea, the cavern
in which the wheels work being under-
ground and below the furface of the fub-
terraneous canal; and all the light I had
was that of a farthing candle. I offer it

only

[ 254 ]
only as an explanation, which may glvd
you a better idea of the manner in which
the coals are drawn, than a mere defcrip-
tion in words.

a. Is the canal arched over.

b. A little branch of it, or rather a

trough, into which the water is let
at pleafure by drawing up the Hiding
door c,

d. A water wheel, into the cavities of

which the water falls out of the
trough b,

e. A wooden cylinder, to which the

ropes are faftened j turned by the
above water wheel, which winds the
ropes round it.
ff. The ropes which are faftened at top
to the crane.
0-. The channel through which the
water that turns the wheel, runs off,
marked F in the large plan.
Each boat contains twelve boxes; two
men and a boy are employed in the unload-
ing, who arc from twenty to forty-five mi-
nutes about each boat load ; this variation is
occafioned by caufes which will be explain-
ed hereafter. When drawn up, the boxes

are

[ 255 ]

arc emptied on a heap for fale ; and then
let down again into the boats. "I'his
fubterraneous canal is extended further
than the crane, with defign to ercd:
another upon the fame principles. At
the mouth of it is a door fiiftened on
hinges at the bottom of the water, which
falls or riles at pleafure, and when up l1:ops
the water from entering i a trap-door at
the bottom of the fubterraneous canal may
then be opened, and all the water let out
for repairing any of the works ; it then
runs into the channel, g.

I fhould, in the next place, remark,,
that the water marked H, 11, 11, H, is
the river Medlockt and I, the Duke's ca-
nal ', but as it is the firft and grand prin-
ciple of Mr. Brindlcy^ plan, with all arti-
ficial navigations, never to let the water
of any brook or river intermix with that
of the canal, unlcfs to fupply the requilitc
quantity ; fome peculiar contrivance was
necefTary to prevent the canal, in this
junction with the river, from being affed:-
cd by its rifing or falling with flood?, GV.
For this purpofe, the wear was executed,
which is minuted in the annexed plan,

marked

[ 256 ]

marked K : It is a hexagon, of 366 yards
circumference.

The old courfe of the Medlock is marked
out by the lines dotted thus :

Inftead of permitting it to continue in that
courfe, it was enlarged into the fize it now
appears in the plan, the circular end of which
is all raifed on mafonry. The outward line
of the wear, K, K, K, regulates the height
of water in the canal ; the higher that
edge is, the higher is the water. The
river Medlock y thus enlarged, falls fifteen
inches over that edge of mafonry, into a
frefh furface of water, marked L, L, L;
this is likewife all raifed of flone-work;
near the center of it is a well M of eleven
yards diameter, down which the whole river
falls feveral yards depth. It is received at
bottom in a fubtcrraneous pafTage, marked
N, N, and flows out at O, where it ap-
pears a common river, falling into the /r-
"well, at P.

The fubtcrraneous pafTage N, was made
of that length, for a very material reafon ;
at Q^ is a communication between "the

end

[ '^^1 ]

tnd of the pafTage and the furface of the
water above, in the nature of a fmaller
well, but the mouth plugged up ; this is
made with defign to clear the palTage of
all mud or rubbiHi that might accumulate
in time at the bottom of the well M, by
drawing the plug, and letting down a
heavy fall of water, to drive out fuch rub-
bifh at the mouth O.

The reafon why the wear was made of
this form, was to command a greater line
of extent, within a fmaller general fpace
than if it was a plain circle, fquare, or other
iimple form. The circumference is 366
yards, which was neceifary for the quan-
tity of water to be carried off; now a cir-
cle of that circumference could not be con-
tained within the outward bounds of the
enlarged river, and at the fame time leave
Ipace enough for a body of water around it.

The lines in the plan, marked R, R,
denote a fubterraneous palTage, to drain
off all fuperfluous water at fbme houfes
and warchoufes at S, S, and alfo from the
above-mentioned one at F. At T is a
well and plug, as before defcribed at Q^
for the fame purpofe of cleanfing the paf-
fage from mud and rubbidi. The water

Vol. III. S thus

[ 258 ]

thus collected flows into the river Medlock
atU.

The general defign of thefe works is,
undoubtedly, great -, the whole plan fhews
a capacity and extent of mind which fore-
fees difficulties, and invents a remedy be-
fore the evil exifts. The connexion and
dependence of the parts on each other
are happily imagined, and all exerted in
concert, to command, by every means, the
wilhed for fuccefs : The genius of the
engineer deferved it ; but the idea is more
beautiful in fpeculation than ufeful in prac-
tice y at leaft it appears fo to me : But I
Ihould apologize for criticiiing works of
fo noble a tendency, and fo excellently in-
vented ', excufe my being fo free as to ex-
prefs the idea I have of the defeds of
thefe works -, aifurlng you that I venerate,
no lefs than the warmeft of his admirers,
the mafterly genius that planned them.

The grand defign of the wear was to
preferve the canal free from the influence
of floods, ^c. It was expected, that in
the moll boIfl:erous times, in common ri-
vers, this would always be fmooth, and
free from every inequality. But the event
has turned out otherwife. The whole

furface

[ 259 ]

furface has more than once been totally
overflowed, the hexagon, well, and all, one
general flood, and the outward mound
rounded of earth, to confine the water,
every where overflowed by it, confequent-
ly the canal received a much larger por-
tion of water than ever Mr. Brindley de-
figncd it fhould, and the inconveniencies
of an unreftrained tide either happ€ned>
or might have done. But the wear was
confeflTedly found unequal to its purpofe,
which occafioned the making the bafon,
marked W, into which the water runs in
floods, and over-flows a regular bank made
for that purpofe, X, X. But this refource
has been fince found infufficient, and not
only a fecond one of the fame kind, but
alfo a general lowering of the mound of
earth around the waters of the Medlock^
inclofing the wear, are now in fpeculatiouo
Thefe circumftances prove fufiiciently, that
this elaborate and mofl coftly work is
nearly ufelefs.

A very fmall addition of expence in
the ere<ftion would have prevented all
thefe inconveniencies. Had the central
well been twice as large, or of a more fit
proportion to the contingent body of wa-
S 2 tcr*

[ 26o J
* tcr> and the correfpondlng caverns the
fame, all the enfuing difficulties would have
been prevented.

But when the v^^ear was found unequal
to the end propofed, the fhifts made ufe of
to remedy it, fuch as the bafon W, and the
defigned lowering of the banks, &c, all ap-
pear, in my humble opinion, inadequate to
the purpofe, and by no means confiftent
with the former plan; they are little better
than letting the water take its natural
courfe; which one would apprehend the
worft of all courfes, from the vaft expence
at which an artificial one was made. I
fhould fuppofe, a new cavern and well
would have been more confiftent with the
firft defign, and have anfwered the wifhed
for end in a more fure and regular manner :
and if very great floods (fuch as never yet
happened) are to be guarded againft, the
new cavern, or fubterrane, might have been
large enough, occalionally, to admit the
water difcharged by more than one well ;
on which plan feveral might be made to be
kept plugged, like the forcing ones at Q^
and T, and to be opened only in floods.
Upon this principle, fuch additions might
be made at Y and Zj the dotted lines

there,

[ 26, ]

there, mark a new channel into the Med-
locky and a fubterrane to another well.

As the depth of water upon L is only
fifteen inches, it certainly would be no dif-
ficult matter to effedl this addition; the
water might eafily be fenced out by ma-
fonry, around a fpace to work in, and the
pafTage might be carried on, and arched
under ground.

Another point, in which thefe works
fell fhort of expedlation, is the effedt of the
fubterraneous drains ; it was imagined,
that the fuperfluous water through thofe
drains, would, at all times, freely flow into
the Medlock at U j but inftead of that, the
water of the Medlock as often flows into the
drain, which has very bad confequences,
for it totally counteradls the very principles
of a drain, and likewife flows back fo
ftrongly upon the water-wheel which
draws up the coals through the well E,
that the power of the wheel is greatly im-
peded, infomuch that the work of drawing
up the coals, which can, at very low
water, be done at the rate of a boat load in
twenty or twenty-five minutes, takes forty-
five when the water is high : or, in other
words, encreafes the labour fifty -^er cent,
S 1 This

ti

[ 262 ]

This evil appears to be caufed by the fub-
terraneous palTages being funk too deep, by
which means the mouth U is too much
comnianded by the waters of the Med-
lock.

Having taken this view of the works in
Cafile-Jicldy we next took pofleflion of the
pleafure boat we had before fpoke for, and
peered for TVorJley. The firft objects we
met with, were two wears more at Corn^
broke, formed on the fame principles as
that in the Cajile-field, fwallowing up ri-
vulets in central wells, which convey the
water in fubterraneous pafTages under the
canal, and permit it to rife again on the
other fide, and flow on in its ufual courfe.

Faffing on, the canal ruqs chiefly along
the fides of natural banks ; which courfe
was very judicioufly chofe for the conve-
nience of poiTeffing not only one bank per-
fedtly firm and fecure, but plenty of earth
ready for making the other. Juft before
we came to Throjlle-nejl Bridge, I obferved
a projeding piece of m.afonry in the canal,
which, on enquiry, I found to be the cafe
of a canal door, for I know not what other
name to give it : It is upon the fame prin-
ciple as that at the mouth of the fubter-

ranean

[ 263 ]

rancan paiTagc, in which the boats unload
in Cajllc-Jield. The contrivance and de-
fign of thefc doors are admirable, but as
many of them will occur in this tour of
the navigation, it will not be improper to
explain the conftrudion of them here.

In the fketch, Plate IV, Fig. 4, A re-
prefents one fide of the channel of the
canal, being walled ; B, is the floor of it j
C, C, are two doors, fixed in the pofition
they appear in, and turning on hinges at
bottom, d, dj d, d. The doors have a free-
dom of rifing, but cannot fall lower ; now
it is obvious from this, that in cafe the
bank A, breaks, and the water ruflies out
of the breach, the decreafe of prefTure on
the doors C, C, will raife them up at once
to e, e, (where they will be fixed againft
projeding irons made for that purpofe,)
as the water at F, F, will then natu-
rally force them up. The confequence
of which is, the lofing no more than the
water contained between the doors i and
if the bank fhould break at F, yet the
quantity of water loft would be but trifling.
I have thrown the doors near one another,
for your fully underflanding the principle
upon which they are defigned ; but in the
S 4 canal

[ 264 ]
canal they are at a diltance from each
other in divers places. The flopping the
lofs of water is of great confequence, not
only to lefTen the mifchief of the mere lofs,
in preventing the navigation going forward,
'but alfo in lellening greatly the damage
the country would fuiter from being over^
fiowed; a point of great importance.

Next we came to Leicefler Bridge, (un-
der it another canal door,) and paffing
through it I obferved, on the left hand, a
Imall water-fall, which is the mouth of a
main drain made by the farmer, with
fmaller ones that lead into it, all covered :
The excellent effect of which is here ftrik-
ingly vifible ; for the land on that fide was
perfectly dry, but on the other fide the
canal very wet, though not much rain haj
faLen.

At Weather-Meetings we paiTed another
canal door.

Paffing the mouth of the canal that leads
to Al:ringbam, Gfr. and under rayhr's
Bridge, you catch a view cf Mars Bridge
in a pretty fituation, the furrounding coun-
try fine i you look over it, fcattered with
feats, houfes, cfr. in a pleafing manner.
This part oi the canal runs through Traf-

ford

[ ^(>s ]

JhrJ Mofsy which is a peat earth black
moor : It is great pity that the noble ad-
vantage of a water carriage through the
heart of this moor, to fo fine a market as
Manchejier, does not induce the owners to
cultivate this wafte tra6t, which might,
beyond all doubt, be applied to numerous
ufes, far more profitable than yielding peat
in a country fo abounding with coals.

The next objedt that prefents itfelf, is
the work at Barton Bridge, which is one
of the principal undertakings in the whole
navigation, and a wondrous one it certain-
ly is. The canal is here, in its ufual
breadth, carried {Roman aqueduct like)
on arches, over the large and navigable
river IrwelL

The aquedudl Is two hundred yards long,
and thirty-fix feet wide ; it crofTes the Ir-
well on three large arches, the center of
which fpans fixty-three feet ; and is car-
ried with amazing labour through a val-
ley, filled up to receive it. The view,
Plate V, which I took, ftanding on Barton
Bridge, will better explain this furprizing
work.

A. I3 the river IrwelL

B. A

[ 266 ]

B. A lock-gate, through which the
barges are let that navigate the ri-
ver, on account of the obllru(5lion
of the cafcade, C.

D. D. A gang-way from one fide to the
other.

E. The canal.

F. The pleafure-boat, drawn by one
horfe.

The effed: of coming at once on to Bar^
ton Bridge^ and looking down upon a large
river, with barges of great burthen failing
on it ; and up to another river, hung in
the air, with barges towing along it, form
altogether a fcenery fomewhat like en*
chantment, and exhibit at once a view
that mufl: give you an idea of prodigious
labour i for the canal is here not only car-
ried over the Irwell, but likewife acrofs
a large valley, being banked up on each
iidc in a furprizing manner, to form a
mound for the water, and the channel
alfo filled up to the ufual depth, that the
banks, at a place where they are entirely
artificial, and confequently weaker than
where natural, might not be endangered
by the great prelTure of fo large a body of

water

[ 267 ]

water as the depth here filled up would
have contained : And I fliould remark,
that it is a maxim throughout this whole
navigation, to keep the canal of an equal
depth every where : I believe it fcarce ever
varies above fix inches -, from four feet, to
four feet fix inches.

The method Mr. Brindley takes to fill up
a channel, where too deep, is a moft admi-
rable one ; He builds two very long boats,
fixes them within two feet of each other,
and then eredts upon them a triangular
trough, large enough to contain feventeen
tons of earth ; The bottom of this trough
is a line of trap doors, which, upon draw-
ing a pin, fiy open at once, and difcharge
the whole burthen in an inftant, Thefe
boats are filled any where from the banks
where the earth is in fuperfluous quanti-
ties, by wheel-barrowing it on a plank,
laid from the ihore, on to the trough:
The boat is then drawn over the fpot,
which is to be filled up, and the earth
there dropped : It is aftonifliing what a
vafl faving is made by this invention : In
common management to conduct a canal
level acrofs a valley, and without locks,

would

[ 268 ]
would confumc the revenue of a whoI«
county J but fuch inventions as thefe eafe
the expence at leaft 5000/. per cent.
The following fketch, Plate VIII. Fig. i.
will give a clearer idea of thefe boat-wag-
gons.

A. The boat that appears on a fide
view.

B. The trough, fupported by the pieces

V>j ^-^9 ^.^»

D. The ends of the boats.

E. That of the trough.

I {hould tell you, that any part of this
aqueduct can be repaired without damag-
ing the reft of the canal, or lofing more
water than is contained within a fmall
ipace on each fide the part decayed ; for fe-
veral doors, of the fame nature as thofe
already defcribed, are fixed in the channel ;
and alfo trap-doors, or tubes, (if I may fb
call them,) at the bottom, &c. of the aque-
ducft, through which, by drawing a few
plugs, the water would prefently be dif-
charged into the Irwell, and the part to be
repaired, laid dry at once; a contrivance,
which is undoubtedly of vaft confequence.

But

[ 269 1

But there are other works at Barton
which claim our attention befides the
crofling the river. Two roads here came
athwart the navigation, and happening in
this valley where the canal is fo much
higher than the level of the country, to
have built bridges would have coft immenfc
fums, as the rife would have required them
half as long as that at Wejitninfier. The
method, therefore, taken by Mr. Brindley
was to fink the road gradually on both
fides, and turning a large arch, to carry the
canal over the roads as well as the river ;
and this is pradtifed with both. So that in
going under it you fink gradually on one
fide and rife in the fame manner on the
other. The view, Plate VI, will explain
it clearly.

A. Is the canal.

B. The wall that fupports the arch.

C. The road.

Leaving this fcene of wonders we paflcd
on, and coming to Moreton Bridge, we pre-
fently faw a frefli inftance of attention, to
keep the water of the canal unmixed by
that even of the fmalleft ftream, for here
an arch is turned under the canal for a
little brook to run through.

From

t 270 i

From hence towards the brick kiln oil
the right, and paft it, I obferved feme lands
lying very low, beneath the level of the
canal ; in wet feafons they muft be much
damaged by the water of the naviga-
tion.

From hence you have a fine proipedt of
the Duke's houfe at Worjley^ and the lands
adjoining*

A little further another brook is carried
under the canal, by means of an arch turned
for that purpofe.

Next we came to one of the fpots where
the lime was found, which proved fo noble
an acquilition to the Duke. In carrying
■on the navigation a vaft quantity of ma-
fonry was necefTary, in building aquasdud:s,
bridges, warehoufes, wharfs, ^c. &c. and
the want of lime was felt feverelyj the
fearch that was made for matters to attempt
to burn into lime, was a long time fruitlefs ;
at laft Mr. Brindky met with a fubflance
of a chalky kind, which, like the reft, he
tried ; but found (though it was of a lime.,
ftone nature) that, for want of adhefion in
the parts, it would not make lime. This
inoft inventive genius happily fell upon an
expedient to remedy this misfortune. He

thought

[ 271 ]

thought of tempering this earth In the
nature of brick earth, cafting it in moulds
like bricks, and then burning it ; and the
fuccefs was anfwerable to his wifhes : In
that ftate it burnt readily into excellent
lime ; and this acquifition was one of the
moft important that could have been made.
1 have heard it aflerted more than once,
that this ftroke was better than twenty
thoufand pounds in the Duke's pocket -, but
like moft common affertions of the fame
kind, it is probably an exaggeration. How-
ever, whether the difcovery was worth
five, ten, or twenty thoufand, it certainly
was of noble ufe, and forwarded all the
works in an extraordinary manner. The
bed of this lime-marle (which I think is
the propereft name for it) lies on the fides
of the canal, about a foot below the fur-
face.

Advancing towards Worjley, I was much
pleafed to fee many vaft heaps of the mud
that came out of the canal, mixed up with
dung, and ready to lay on to the grounds.
The Duke keeps thefe fields in his own
hands, and manages them like an excel-
lent huibandman.

At

[ 272 ]

At Worfley we pafTed three more canal-
doors, and a large ftream, which runs un-
der the navigation.

Arriving at the head of the works, we
were much flruck. with the excellent and
ipirited appearance of adtive buiinefs -, for
the little village of Worjley looks like a
river-environ of London : Here is a very
large timber-yard, well-flowed with all
forts of wood and timbers for framing
buildings, and building boats, barges, and
all kinds of floating machines. The boat-
builders yard joins, and feveral boats,
barges, ^c. are always on the ftocks.
Next to thefe is the (tone mafon's yard,
where lie vaft piles of ftones, ready
fquared, for loading barges with, to con-
vey to any part of the navigation where
they may be wanted, either for building,
or repairing of bridges, aqusedud:s, wharfs,
warehoufes, ^c. &c. &c. the quarry is
juft by the mouth of the mine, and much
is brought out of tl^e mine itfelf, in work-
ing for the coals. Thus every part of the
whole defign ads in concert, and yields
mutual affiftance, which is the grand art
of ceconomical management.

The

[ '^11 ]

The great curiofity at Worjley is the
tunnel, which is a fubterraneous canal
hewn out of the rock to a great length
(near a mile,) and extends into the heart of
the coal mines. The view, Plate VII.
exhibits the mouth of it, and hk^wife the
quarry works around it.

A. The navigation.

B. The mouth of the tunnel, with lajge
doors to open and fhut.

C. The quarry.

D. A crane of a very curious conflruc-
tlon, for heaving the ftones out of
the quarry into the barges.

E. Ropes that keep the crane in its per-
pendicular poiition.

The water in the tunnel is upon the le-
vel of that in the canal, being the fame,
fo that the boats loaded with coals come
out of the very mine itfelf.

The firfl: entrance, for looo yards, is
fix feet and an half wide, and feven feet
' and an half high, including the water,
"which is three feet four inches deep ; it is
already continued 750 yards further, ten
feet wide, and it is faid (how true I know
not) that it will be carried on at leaft a
mile and a half further. I took fome time

Vol. III. T to

[ 274 ]
to explore the horrid caverns of thefe mines,
and found, on an attentive examination,
that the method of conduding the bufinefs
of them, was nearly as follows :

The feams (or, in thefe mines, rather
veins) of coal branch divers ways, fomc are
above the tunnel, and fome below it ; as
faft as the coal is got, the fpace is cleared
and arched for a road, to move the coal
on : This is done in little four-wheel wag-
gons, which contain i o cwf. of coals, and
is pufhed along by a man fetting his head
and hands againft it (the road being laid
on purpofe for it.) The roads all lead to
the tunnel. When the man with the
waggon comes over a well (of which there
are feverai) that is funk from the road
through the arch of the tunnel, and under
which the boats are fixed, he ftops on a
frame work of wood, which turns on pi-
vots, and is fo contrived, that upon draw-
ing up a part of one end of the waggon,
fome of the coals drop out, and then the
waggon is tilted up, and all the reft fol-
low them, falling into the boat beneath
either promifcuoufly, or dired:ed through
a tube to fill a box at a time, at pleafure,
which work is performed almofi: inftanta-

neoullyj

neoufly, and the waggon fent off again for
a frelh cargo.

But as the arches (roads) through the
mine in many places crofs each other, it
would there have been impraifticable for a
man to pufli fo great a weight around a
turning; to remove which objedion, the
fquiire of the floor in the crofs of the roads
is all of wood, and turns upon a central
pivot of iron, fo that the man flopping
when the waggon com.es exadlly on to the
fquare, and turning it till it faces the road
he is to go, he then pufhes on without the
leaft interruption.

The coals that arife in the branches of
the mine below the tunnel are drawn up
through wells into thofe above it, and then
conveyed, like the reil, in waggons to the
boats.

When they are loaded they arc linked
together in a gang; and for the conveni-
ence of drawing them out, there is a rail on
each fide the tunnel, for the perfon who
flands in the firfl boat to hold with his
hands and draw himfelf along ; which
gives him fo great a power, that a boy of
feventeen has drawn out a gang of twenty-
one boats loaded, which, at feventons each,
T 7. is

[ 276 ]

is 147 tons. But this is only one inftancc,
and out of th€ common courfe of bufinefs j
they commonly bring out a gang at a time,
which is four or fix, and as foon as they
are out of the tunnel, they are drawn by
mules to Manchejier, &c.

The tunnel, where it palTes through
earth or coal, is furrounded with brick-
work, but through the rock it is only hewn
out.

At the diftance of about a thoufahd
yards from the mouth, it divides into
two, which branch different ways, for
the convenience of loading coals in the
above compendious manner in every part
of the mine ; and more branches are in
contemplation : It has been afferted, that
thofe who go up both paffages travel there-
in three miles ; but this is an exaggeration.

Every here and there along the tunnel
are wells, bricked from it to the top of the
hill, for the admiffion of air, the exhala-
tion of damps, and the letting down men
for reparations in cafe of accidents.

I have read of tin tubes for the convey-
ance of air into this mine, but there is no
fuch thing ; the {hafts, pafTages, and tun-
nel fupply it fufficiently.

As

[ '^n ]

As there generally is much fuperfluous
water in coal mines, it wa? a very bene-
ficial fcheme to cut this tunnel for draining
that water away, and, at the fame time, for
carrymg the navigation into the heart of
the colliery : Such bold and deciuve ftrokes
are the finefl proofs of inventive genius, of
that penetration which fees into futurity,
and prevents obflrudlions unthought of by
the vulgar mind, merely by forefeeing
them : A man with fuch ideas moves in a
fphere that is to the reft of the world ima-
ginary, or at beft, a terra incognita.

The beft way of viewing the extent of
the mines, is by going down the fhaft and
coming out by the tunnel : And fometimes
youmuft either take this method, (which
was my own cafe,) or not fee it at all ; for
boats are not always going in, nor to be
had for that purpofe, but you will feldom
fail of an empty boat within, by which
your guide (the hoftler, I think, of the
inn) will convey you out.

Near the head of the canal is another
curiofity, very well worth viewing. It is
a mill of a new conftru6tion, with many
powers. The firft motion is the turning a
wheel, twenty-four feet diameter, by a
T 3 ii-nall

[ 278 ]
fmall overfhot ftream. This wheel works
three pair of grinding ftones for corn, a
boulting mill, which difcharges the meal
divided into three forts of flour, befides
the feparation of the pollard and bran ;
and thefe works are effedled with hogs
briftles, fixed within the wire fieves. It
]ikewife turns a machine for making mor-
tar, which is done by being laid upon a
horizontal flone, worked by a cogged wheel
beneath it ; and the horizontal ftone turns
two others that are fixed obliquely, and
work by their fridion the mortar under
them, which is taken off as made, by a
man who is ready for the purpofe.

This little ftream further turns another
machine, of excellent ufe : It is for fifting
the fand ufed in the buildings, and wafh-
ing out the little ftones that are in it;
v/hich it performs very effedually and ex-
pedLtioully. The fketch, Plate VIII. Fig. 2,
will explain the mechanifm.

a. Is the tube from which the water ifTues.

b. The hopper, in which the fand is

thrown out of wheel-barrows.

c. Is a wier cylindrical fieve, into which

the fand nlis from the hopper, and
which, being turned by the large

wheel,

1

T„l./n.fl->p.i:'r i;S.

c

[ 279 J
wheel, fifts the fand, which drops
through the wiers into the wheel f,
and out of that, after a frefli opera-
tion, into the trough gj from whence
it is taken in (liovels.
d. Is a trough for conducing the ftones
driven by the water out of the end of
the cylinder, into a wheel-barrow ^,
placed to receive them.
h. Is a board, leaned aflant upon the
frame work of the machine, for the
men to drive up the wheel-barrows
on.
The navigation is carried a mile and half
beyond JVorJley, into the middle of a large
bog, called here a mofs, belonging to the
Duke, and merely for the ufe of draining
it, and conveying manures to improve it :
It is greatly to that nobleman's honour
to find him attending, and at a confidera-
ble expence, to matters of hufbandry, in
the midft of undertakings that would alone
convey his name with peculiar brilliancy
to the lateft pofterity.

This bog is of large extent, extremely
wet, and fo rotten, that, before it is im-
proved, it will not bear even a man. The
Duke begins by cutting fmall drains, very
T 4 near

t 280 ]

near each other, which foon render the
furface pretty firm. Then his barges bring
the chippings of flone, and other rubbifh,
which arife in digging the coals, and which
are brought out of the mine exadtly in the
fame manner, only inlkad of going to
market, to be fold, they are converted into
money, in another way, by being brought
hither. This rubbifh is Vv'heel-barrowed
out of the barges on boards, on to the land,
which is greatly improved by it ; the fur-
face foon becomes found, the aquatic fpon-
taneous growth difappears by degrees, bet-
ter herbage comes, and thus it is converted
into profitable pafiure, without any par-
ing, burning, or ploughing. Some of the
longer fhivers of the flone will not crumble
with the frofts j fjch are picked up, laid
in heaps, and carried back to th« ftone
yard, where they are fquared for buildings,
or converted to other ufes.

As faft as the bog becomes improved,
the canal is extended, for the fake of going
on with the work; and almoH: at the end
of it his Grace is building a fmall houfe,
for an overfeer, fituated upon land which
once would not have borne even the men
cmvilGycd nov/ in building on it.

This

[ 28r ]

This improvement is of a new kind,
and peculiarly ufeful in the neighbourhood
of quarries, (lone mafons yards, mines in
rocks, &c. &c. In this inftance it is of
noble advantage, for the rubbifh would be
troublefome at V/orJley, and expenfive to
carry out of the way ; fo that this improve-
ment muft be conlidered as another part
of this grand whole, which is fo admi-
rably conned:ed, and, by itfelf, fo aftonifh-
ingly fupported.

At7F(?r/7^j/ land letts from 2qj. to 3/. per
acre. Farms rife from 20/. to 100/. a year.

The next bulinefs is to view the other
branch of the canal, which extends to Al'
tringhamy ^c. and for this purpofe you re-
turn to Manchcfier to lie, and keep the
pleafure-bcat, to be ready at Cajile-Jield the

next morning.

After arriving in the old courfe at the
branching off, you firft come to Longford-
bridge, under which is a canal-door. And
juft by a fmall circular wear, for the con-
veyance of a ftream under the canal, the
brook falls into the well, in the nave of
the circle, dov^n to an arched paffage,
which tonveys it under, and lets it rife
again in its old courfe on the other fide.

[ 282 ]

At Wat erf or d the canal extends acrofs
a long valley, the level being prcferved
without locks : The work is here very
noble : The banks of earth of a vaft height
and thicknefs, beautifully (loped, and the
whole appearance ftrikingly great. It here
croiTes at the fame time a large brook
much fubje6t to floods and a road: Two-
arches carry it over the flream, and a
third over the road. The view, Plate IX.
will better explain it.

A. The ftream.

B. The wall of the aquaedud:.

C. The road.

D. The floped green bank of the canal.

E. A meadow.

The three arches extend 80 feet. Here
are trap -doors, &c. as 2.1 Barton Bridge^
for fecuring the water of the canal in cafe
cf a breach, or for repairing the aquasdud:.

Further in the fame valley the naviga-
tion is carried acrofs the river MerfeJ, on
one arch of feventy feet fpan.

I ihould remark, that the canal acrofs this
whole valley is of a vaft breadth, and has
rather the appearance of a great navi-
gable river than an artificial canal cut at
the expence of a fingle perfon.

Next

I

[283 ]

Next it is carried acrofs Sale Moor-, un-
der the firft bridge you catch a pleafing
view, through the arches of other bridges,
in a line, and at the end a church and
fteeple. This part of the navigation, from
the lownefs of the Moor below the level
of the canal, was pronounced by many to
be imprad:icable, and Mr. Brindleys ne
plus ultra-, but this difficuhy was removed
by perfeverance and fpirit; a complete bed
was made for the canal, raifed at bottom as
well as the fides, fufficient for condudl-
ing the water on a level. This was ef-
fected by making a vaft cafe of timber for
the whole work : Great piles of deal were
fixed as a mound to keep the earth in a
proper pofition to form the banks; and
when they were raifed, the piles removed
on for anfwcring the fame work again, and
the water brought forwards by degrees,
to the aftonilliment of thofe who pro-
nounced the work impracticable. It is
carried over two brooks here, for which
arches are turned.

At Altringham Bridge, the Duke has a
large warehoufe on the fide of the canal,
feveral ftories high, for the convenience of
flowing and lodging goods, in the trade

that

[ 284 ]
that is carried on, en this part of the na-
vigation : Alio a wharf for felHng coals,
with cranes ereded for loading and un-
loading boats : Here, hkewife, his Grace's
people burn charcoal.

Advancing with th« canal, we come to
Dunbanii paffing through a. lock conftrudt-
ed upon the fame prij^iple as the canal-
doors, (o often mentioned. Dunhcm
fchool is ittn upon the left ; a plain and
unornamented, but elegant front ; as pleaf-
ing, of the kind, as any one I remember to
have ittn. A little further, we came to
the works then executing, which are of
the nature of all in this great undertaking :
The canal is here carried over tvv'o roads,
and the river BoUarn ; and a great inequa-
lity in the farface of the country remedied
by a fyftem of locks, of which there are
eight, within a vaft frame-work of tim-
bers, in the diftance of about thirty yards.
"When finiflied, and the water navigated,
all thefe locks will be pafTed by a gang of
barges, in lefs than twenty minutes. The
canal croffcs the roads and the river, on vaft
arches, in the fame manner as already de-
fcribed and reprefented. The activity and
ipirit with which the workmen carry on

their

[ 285 ]

their bufinefs, is very pleafing ; carpenters,
fmiths, mafons, labourers, boatmen, (^c.
(s'c, are all employed in great numbers, fo
that the works advance with great celerity.
Here I obrerved two very large barges,
with a houfe built in each, and a chimney
in one : This is a floating blackfmith's
forge and fliop, with all ibrts of tools, &c.
The other is a carpenter's Ihop ; thefe are
of excellent ufe in following the works as
they advance ; faving all the trouble and
expence of repeated eredlions and re-
movals.

The works are alfo carrying on by near
three hundred meo, about two miles fur-
ther ; - barges have been carried thither
by land, and floated for the ufe of the
workmen; but both parts of the canal will
foon join, as the buflnefs gbes en with
^ much fpirit.

Another part of his Grace's defign, and
which he has a»n 2.&. to enable him to exe-
cute, is to extend a branch of his canal
from Safe Moor to Stockpcrt, but not yet
begun : That place being a town of conli-
derable manufacture and trade, further very
confiderablc benefits may reafonably be ex-
pected to accrue from the encreafe of tra,fi:c

on

[ 286 ]

en the canal thereby occafioncd. This in-
tended branch is, Hke the rcil, marked in
the annexed map, Plate X. which deli-
neates the whole country through which
the navigation extends.

A, A, A. Is the Duke's navigation fi-

nillied.

B, B, B. Ditto unfinilhed.

C, C, C. Courfe of the old navigation.
[] acrofs the canal — The canal-doors.
But here I fliould add, that a fcheme,

much greater than any thing yet executed,
is in contemplation, though not yet come
before Parliament. His Grace was firll
enabled to extend his canal to the Hemp-
Jlonesy (fee the Map;) but my Lord Gower,
and many other perfons, obtaining an ad:
for a canal from the Trent to the Merfey, to
communicate between the towns of Hull
and Liverpool, the Duke of Brldgewater
agreed with them (under authority of Par-
liament) to vary the courfe of his intended
canal, and meet theirs half way, between
Prejlon-brook and Rimcorny and then the
two canals, united, to be carried to the
Merfey at Runcorn.

Since that Mr. Brmdley has viev/ed the
river at Runcorn, and is of opinion, that

the

VolJlIMiuX.

/

Stockport

E of Mizn s.

'^mi:^

A Plan

of the
]VAVI&IBL£ C/K/IZ.

V' [; irrwisdi/c/i

\^ Onzpm/iaa

^ as,^«^^ .^*^«^

[ 287 ]
the navioratlonmio:ht be carried over it in an
aqu£EdLi(ft, and then forwarded diredly to
Liverpool. And we may expetl, in a
few years, to hear that his Grace has
completed his navigation this way, by
reaching the Mcrfey at Runcorn Gap ; after
which, this canal will undoubtedly be the
eafieft, cheapeft, and beft way of fending
goods of all kinds from and to Liverpool
and Manchejler.

It is to that period his Grace looks for a
reimburfement of the immenfe fums this
navigation has and will cod him: The
benefit of water carriage for his coals at
Worjley to Manche/lery Altringhaniy &c.
is certainly a great advantage ; but not near
fufficient to repay the expence of fuch vaft
undertakings; but when two fuch confi-
derable trading and manufaduring towns
as Manchejler and Liverpool communicate,
by means of this navigation, at a cheaper and
eafier rate than by the old one, there is no
doubt but his Grace will meet with that
profitable return his noble fpirit fo truly
deferves.

This fcheme is a vafc one, and worthy
fo bold and daring a genius. The river
Merfey, at that place, i3 five hundred and

fixtv

[ 288 ]

fixty yards wide -, and at fpring tides the
water flows near eighteen feet perpendi-
cular. The mafts of vefTels, which na-
vigate the river itfelf, are faid to be fevcnty
feet high; add to all this, that the, river
is fome times rough and boifterous : It is
planned, notwithftanding thefe tremendous
difficulties, to carry the canal acrofs the
river. The greateft undertaking (if exe-
cuted) that ever yet was thought of, and
will exceed the nobleft works of the
Romans, when mafters of the world ; or
the legendary tales even of Semiramis her-

felf.

The excellency and utility of the plan are.,
however, indifputable: If the canal was car-
ried diredly to the town of LiverpooU there
would at once be a complete, eafy, fafe, and
cheap navigation from that great fea-port
diredly to Manchejier, and all the other
towns and places near which the canal
goes. The prefent navigation is that of
the river Merfey, or, in other words, an
arm of the fea for feveral miles, which is at
beft but an infecure navigation for inland
boats, not to fay a dangerous one, and
occafions fuch precautions of the expenfive
kind, that the carriage of goods can never

be

[ 289 ]

behalf fo cheap or regular as upon a canal.
This river partakes, with others, of dif-
advantages, to which canals are not fubje(5l,
fuch as tides, floods, working one way
againft a ftream, &c. &c. from all which
the new navigations are pcrfedly free ; add
to this, the old navigation here is cramped
with ten times the number of locks, that
the canal would be.

But fomething fure is due to the execu-
tion and polTeffion of works, which com-
mand the attention and admiration of all
Europe: The number of foreigners who
have viewed the Duke of Bridgewater\
prefent navigation, is furprizing; what
would it be if his Grace was to extend it
over a boifterous arm of the fea: — Tr»
exhibit a navigation afloat in the air, with
fliips of an hundred tons failing full mailed
beneath it. What a fplendid idea!*

* In fome of the controverfial writings, publiflied
on the propofition of a navigation from Hull to Ltver-
^ooly the prejudiced, or rather interefted people, who
were (launch friends to the old navigations, and by the
by, ridiculed canals^ in a manner which mult now,
while fuch great fuccefs attends them, turn, I think, to
their fhame , among other arguments alTerted the
fufficicncy of the navigation to Liverpool already exit-
ing, a ftrolce in one of their nnfwerers is excellent: —
♦' The delays and inconveniences render this (the old)

Vol. III. U jiavf-

[ 290 ]

Upon the whole, the uncommon fpirlt
which aduated his Grace the Duke of
Bridgeivater in defigning and executing
fuch noble works, can never be fuffici-
ently admired : At an age when moft
men aim only at pleafare and diffipaiion,
to fee him engaged in undertakings, that
give employment and bread to thoufands -,
that tend fo greatly to advance the agricul-
ture, manufactures, and commerce, of an
extenfive neighbourhood; in a word, that
improve and adorn his country, is a fight
fo very uncommon, and fo great, that it
muft command our admiration. Nor was
it lefs to his Grace's honour, that, in the
execution of thefe fpirited fchemes, he had
the penetration to difcern the characters

*' navigation ineffectual for the conveyance of the pro-
" duce even of the couiity of Chejier ; as far the moft
" confiderable part of the cheeje produced in that county
*' is now^ carried by land parallel with the tuhole length
*' of this EXCELLENT navigation, to Frodjham-hridge
" and Bank-quay ; from which places it is conveyed
" by flats to Liverpool^ there to be re-Hiipped for
*' London^ and other markets ; and Salt, the other
*' fl<^t'^<^ article of this county, is fen t in great quan-
'* tit'u's^ all by land carriage^ from Northivicb to Man"
*' chcJier^ for the fupply of that town, and a very
** extenfive and populous neighbourhood, notwith-
'* ftanding the prefent navigable com7rmmcatio7i between
" thofe places."

ofl

[ 291 ]

of mankind fo much, as to fix on thofd
people who were formed by nature for tlie
bufincfs j to draw forth latent merit; to
bring from obfcurity one of the mod ufe-
ful genius's that any age can boaft ; tD
throw that genius at once into employ-
ment ; to give a free fcope to his bold
ideas ; to be unfparing of money in fup-
porting them ; and to keep him conliantly
in a lituation of rendering his talents ufe-
ful to his country; all prove that his Grace
has a mind fuperior to common prejudice ;
that he is one of thofe truly great men,
who have the foul to execute what they
have the genius to plan.

I remain, dear Sir,

yours, very fiacerely.

V 2, LET-

[ 292 ]

LETTER XX.

T Took the road from Dunham to Kmits-
ford : In that trad:, land letts from 20/.
to ^fs^s. per acre. Farms rife from 40 /. to
200 /. a year. They reckon the produ6t
of a cow at 5 /.

About Knutsford there are chiefly two
foils, clay and fand. The average rent is
about 1 6 J. an acre. Farms are, in gene-
ral, about 20/. or 30/. but fome of 150/.
and 200/. a year.
Their courfes,

1 . Fallow

2. Wheat

3. Barley

4. Oats.
And,

1. Fallow

2. Wheat

3. Barley

4. Clover for two or three years

5. Wheat.

The quantity of wheat fown is but
trifling. For barley they plough three or
four times, fow three bufhels, and gain, at

an

[ 293 ]
an average, five quarters. For oats they
plough once, fow five bufliels, and gain
from forty to fifty. Very few turneps arc
fovvn by farmers, but fome by gentlemen.

The farmers are getting more into tillage
than formerly, and to their prejudice, for
barley will only grow with much manure.
The town of Manchejlcr fetting up malt-
kiln§ in oppofition to thofe of Torkjljiret
is what encourages the farmers to extend
their tillag-e.

Clover they fow with barley, mow it
twice, and gain two ton and a half the
firft time, and about a ton the fecond.

Potatoes they prepare for by digging,
generally grafs land for the firft crop j
they flice and dibble them in one foot
afunder every way, twenty bufliels to the
acre : Hand-hoe and hand-weed. The
produce generally from three to four bufliels
from a perch, or about 500 per acre : —
Wheat after them. The expences are.

Digging, 2/.

Weeding, &c. i^s.

Taking up, i { d. per bufliel.

Marie is their chief manure j they have

it brown, red, blue, and alfo /liell marie.

They lay two fquare roods and an half ^^r

U 3 acre.

[ 294 ]

acre, which coil them from 3 /. to 4 /. lay
it chieiiy upon grafs. Shell marie is of
fo excellent a nature, that it lafts very good
for ten years, and the land conftantly crop-
ped— a huibandry not much to the credit
cf the Chefr.lre farmers. They know no-
thing of chopping ftubble, but ftack their
hay at home.

Qood grafs land letts at about 25 i. per
acre ; they apply it chiefly to dairying, and
reckon that an acre and half is fuiiicient
for the fjmmer feeding a cow. Their
breed of horned cattle is a mongrel, be-
tween the long and fnort. The produ6t of
a cow they reckon at from 5 /. to 8 /.
Many give in cheefe alone to the amount
Qt 61. 10 s. others as follows :

Cheefe, - - - 61. qs.

Butter, - - 10

Calf,

o 10

7 JO

The -Average quantity of milk per day
about four gallons. They do not keep
above three fwine to twenty cows. Their
winter foe J is hay and llraw ; of the firft
|hey eat about two ton. A dairy maid

can

[ 295 ]
can take care of fifteen. The fjmmer joift
is 25/. In the winter they are ahvavs
kept in the houfe tied up.

It is fappofed in general, that the famous
Chejl:ire cheefe depends more on the qua-
Hty of the land, than on any particular
receipt.

It has been found, that liming and en-
riching the land has made it the worfe for
cheefe.

Cold clays are beneficial foils for cheefe i
in general, the woril land makes the bell:
cheefe.

Many of the great dairy farmers keep
their cows like running horfes, littered
down as well , kept perfectly clean, and
fed conllantly with ground oats ; ftraw only
till C/jriJimas. Someof thefe make 8/. 9/.
and 10/. protii per cow.

The breed even of thefe is in general
fmall ; will not fat to above thirty- two
ftone. None of the Lancafiire long horns
will equal them in milking. Some far-
mers have got a crofs breed by Laticapjlrd
bulls, but it has been found prejudicial to
the dairy.

In the management of their milk, tiie lail:

night's is fet for cream, and the milk, with

U J. the

[ 296 ]

the new of this morn, mixed for the
cheefe ; likewife moft of the cream of lafl
night's milk, warmed to the warmth of
the new milk. They ufe nothing but ren-
net for coagulation. — The cheefes weigh
from 15/^- to 120 Z^.

Their tillage is too trifling co admit a
general defcription ; but they reckon the
annual expence of a horfe at 6/. They
break up their ftubbles for a fallow in May
or 'JunCi ftir three inches deep. The price
of ploughing per acre, 4 j. d d. and 5 s.
Know nothing of cutting ftraw into
chaff.

In the hiring and flocking of farms they
reckon 200 /. fufficient for one of 50 /. a
year.

Land fells at thirty and thirty-two years
purchafe.

Tythes both gathered and com-
pounded.

Poor rates 3 s. in the pound. The em-
ployment chiefly fpinning of flax. All
drink tea.

The farmers carry their corn fevcn
miles ; that is, to the Duke of Bridgewa-
iers navigation.

Leafes run chiefly for three lives.

The

I 297 ]

The general cEconomy of their farms
will be feen from the following fketches.
200 acres in all
30 arable
170 grafs
>r. 150 rent
6 horfes
50 cows
6 young cattle
5 fatting beafls
20 fheep
3 men

2 boys

3 maids.
Another,

150 acres in all
40 arable
1 1 o grafs
jT. 1 20 rent
35 cows
5 fatting beafls

1 man

2 boys

2 maids.
Another,

130 acres in all
20 arable
1 1 o grafs

[ 298 ]

^.100 rent

4 horfes
40 cows
10 fheep

1 man

2 boys

3 maids.
Another,

50 acres in all

5 arable
45 grafs

iC-45 rent
2 horfes
12 cows
I boy

I maid. .
Another,

38 acres all grafs
£•30 rent
I horfe
9 cows
I boy.
The little farmers in this country are
reckoned more wretched than even day-
labourers.

LABOUR.

In harveft, is. 6d.. and beer.

In hay- time, is.td. and ditto,

■ ^ In

[ 299 3

In winter, is.

Mowing grafs, is. 6 J, to 2s.

Ditching, /i^d. io jd.

I M P L E xM E N T S,

A waggon, 15/.

A cart, 9 /.

A plough, 1 5 J.

A roller, 4 /. ioj.

A fey the, 2s. 6 d.to ^s,

A fpade, 4 j. b d.

Laying a fhare and coulter, 6 d. and iron.

Shoeing, is. ^d.

PROVISIONS, ^c.

Bread — barley.

Cheefe, 2 d.

Butter, 7 //. 1 8 oz.

Beef, 2\d.

Mutton, yd.

Veal, 4^.

Pork, j\.d.

Milk, f </. />t'r quart, fkim.

Potatoes, IX. 2d. -ber bufliel.

Candles, 7 d.

Soap, 6 ^.

Labourer's houfe rent, 30^. to 3 /.
lirins:, 20 j-.

At

[ 3C0 ]

At Knutsford is a pretty briilc manu-
fadure, particularly a filk mill that em-
ploys eighty women and children ; the
firll earn from 4j-. to 5J. a week, and
children from 8 ^. to 2 /.

Alio a thread manufadure, in which
men earn from 6s. to 8/. a week; but
few women : but children earn from i j-.
to 2 /.

Likewife a worfted msnufaclurci the
drawing it from the wool ; the earnings,
iMen 12-f. to 14/.
Women (fpinners) 2 s. 6 d, to -^ s.
Children (ditto) 2 /.

I advanced fouthward by Holnis Chapel,
the foil about that place is chiefly of fand
and clay; lets about 20s. at an average.
Farms from 20/. to 300/. a year. Their
courfe generally

1. Fallow

2. Wheat

3. Oats

4. Clover.
And,

1 . Fallow

2. Barley

3. Wheat.

Of

;

[ 301 ]

Of wheat the average crop is about
twenty bufhels, of bailey thirty, and of
oats as much.

Marie is here the grand manure ; they
lay about a rood and half on an acre,
which cofls from i /. lo s. to 2 /. and lafts
from twenty to forty years ; it is of a
brown colour mixed with blue. They
alfb lime their land, generally mix it with
dung for wheat; it cofts them 10^/. the
cwf.

Their grafs land lets from 20 j*. to 40 j.
^er acre, it is all ufed in dairying. Of mea-
dow land they reckon an acre and half will
fummer feed a cow, but in the uplands it
takes three acres. They are pretty careful
in manuring the grals with lime and earth
mixed together.

Their cows arc of an ordinary breed,
loofe boned ; fome farmers have aimed at
an improvement by hancajhire bulls, but
it does not anfwer, except in beauty. The
average quantity of milk is about five
gallons ; but fome of Mr. Vernon s near this
place have given ten gallons per day. The
produi^ of a good cow they calculate as
follows :

Four

t 302 ]

Four cwt, ofcheefe, at 32/. ^.6 ^
Butter - - - 10

Calf = - - - II

Swine - - - - o 10

8 19
But the average is not above two cwfi
and a half of cheefe ; and the whole a^
mount about 6 /. or 6 /. 10 j-.

They reckon that ten or twelve cows
will fat three or four pigs. The calves fuck
a month. They calculate feven cows the
proper number for a dairy maid. They
are kept in the houfe in winter, and fed
with hay or fcravv as the farmer manages:
One ton of hay will winter a cow with
ftraw ; but if without two tons.

In the hiring and flocking farms, they
reckon the following fums neceifary for
one of 100/. a year.

Twenty cows, - - jC* H*^
Implements, - - 40

Three horfes and gears, - 30
Seed, - - - 10

Rent, - - - 50

Houfekeeping, - - 40

Labour, - - 5^

Swine, - - - 2 '

The

[ 3^3 ]
The general ceconomy will be feen from
the following (ketches.
400 acres in all
40 arable
360 grafs
£.250 rent
6 horfes
50 cows
1 2 young cattle
2 men

2 boys
4 maids

6 labourers.
Another,

200 acres in all

30 arable
170 grafs
£, 200 rent

3 horfes
30 cows
20 fheep

2 men

2 boys

3 maids

2 labourers.
Another,

50 acres all grafs
jC- 40 rent

I horfc

[ 3<^4 ][
I horfc
10 cows
4 young cattle
I boy
I maid.

LABOUR.

Inharveft, is. 6 d, and board.

In hay time, is. td. and ditto.

In winter, lod. to u. fmall be^r and broth.

Reaping wheat, per acre, 3 s. to,4 j.

— barley, 3 j. 6 ^.

— — oats, 2 s. td.
Mowing of grafs, is. ^d. to 2 s, (id*
Thrafhing wheat, id. />^r bufh^L
— — — barley, i d. ditto.

— oats, I d. ditto.

Head-man's wages, 10/. arKl 10 s. for

wafhing.
Next ditto, 7 /. I o J".
Boy of ten or twelve yeaTS, 20 j.
Dairy maids, 40 s. to 5 /.
Other ditto, 30 j-. to 45 s.
Women per day in harveft, is. and beer.
In hay time, 7 d.

Value of a man's board, wadilng, and
lodging, 4 J-. a week.

I M P L E-

[ 3<^5 1

IMPLEMENTS, ^c.

A waggon, 20/.

A cart, I o /.

A plough, 27 s.

A harrow, 16 s.

No rollers.

A fcythe, 2 x. 6 ^. to 5 s,

A fpade, 4 s.

Shoeing, is, 4^.

PROVISIONS, &c.

Bread — barley.

Cheefe, 3 1 d.

Butter, ^ d, 18 to 24 oz.

Beef, 2\ d.

Mutton, 31^.

Veal, 3^^.

Pork, 3 f ^. ^

Bacon, 6 ^.

Potatoes, 41 ^. per peck*

Candles, 7^/.

Soap, 6 d.

Labourer's houfe rent, 20 s. to 35^.

• Firing, 2ij-.

BUILDING.

Bricks, 12s. /t'r thoufand.
Oak timber, 2 s.

Vol. III. X Afh

[ 3^^ ]
Afh ditto, 9^/. to I J. 2^.
Mafon per day, i s. 6 d.
Carpenter ditto, is. 6 d.

I forgot to remark, that all the horfcs I
have feen in CheJJnre are of a very bad
breed, and worth but little for real ufe.

From Newcaflle- under -line I had the
pleafure of viewing the Staffordfiire potte-
ries at Burjlem, and the neighbouring vil-
lages, which have of late been carried on
with fuch amazing fuccefs. There are
300 houfes, which are calculated to em-
ploy, upon an average, twenty hands each,
or 6000 in the whole; but if all the va-
riety of people that work in what may be
called the preparation for the employment
of the immediate manufadturers, the to-
tal number cannot be much fhort of 1 0,000,
and it is increafing every day.

It dates its great demand from Mr.
Wedgwood (the principal manufadurer)
introducing, about four years ago, the
cream-coloured ware, and fince that the
increafe has been very rapid. Large quan-
tities are exported to Germany, Ireland,
Holland, Rnjfia, Spain, the F^afi Indie s^
and much to America : Some of the finell
forts to France, A confiderable fliopkeeper

from

[ 3^7 ]
from the Vont-neuf at Paris, was lately at
Burjlem, and bought a large quantity : It
is poflible, indeed, he came for more pur-
poles than to buy -, the French of that rank
feldom travel for bufinefs, which might be
as well tranfa6ted by a lingle letter.

The common clay of the country is ufed
for the ordinary forts ; the finer kinds are
made of clay from Devonjlnre and Dorfet-
Jhirey chiefly from Biddeford-, but the flints
from the 'Thames are all brought rough by
fea, either to Liverpool or Hull, and fo
by Burton. There is no conjecture formed
of the original reafon of fixing the manu-
facture in this fpot, except for the conve-
nience of plenty of coals, which abound
under all the country.

The flints are firft ground in mills, and
the clay prepared by breaking, wafliing,
and fifting, and then they are mixed in the
requiflte proportions. The flints are bought
firft by the people about the country ; and
by them burnt and ground, and fold to the
manufadiurers by the peck.

It is then laid in large quantities, on

kilns, to evaporate the moifl:ure; but this

\ is a nice work, as it muft not be too dry :

Next it is beat with large wooden ham-

X 2 mers.

[ 3°S 1
mers, and then is iPx order for tbrowirig',
and id moa ded into the forms in wHk *
is- to remain : This is the mofl: difficult
work in the whole manufadure. A boy
turns a perpendicular wheel, which, by
means of thongs, turns a fmall horizontal
one, juft before the thrower, with fuch
velocity, that it twirls round the lump of
clay he lays on it, into any form he direds
it with his fingers.

The earnings of the people are various.
Grinders, 7 s. per week.
Waihers and breakers, 8 s.
Throwers, 91. to \zs.
Engine lath men, lOJ. to I2J"*.
Handlers, who fix hands, and other kinds

of finiihers, for adding fprigs, horns,

^c. 9 J-. to 12 J-.
Gilders,

Men, 1 2 s.
Women, js, 6d.
Modellers, apprentices, one of 100/. a year.
Prefi'ers, 8 j. to 9 s.
Painters, ioj". to 12. s.
Moulders in plaifter of Paris, 8 s.

* Mr. Wedgwood was the firft perfon who intro-
duced this machine into a porcelains manufacture.

In

[ 3^*9 ]
In general the men earn from 7 s. to
12 s. Women 5 J-, to 8/. Boys, chiefly
apprentices, but 2j. a week the firft year,
and a rife of 3 J. per amiitm afterwards.
Before they are apprentices 2 j. 9 ^. per
week, as they then learn nothing. But
few girls.

In general we owe the poiTeiTion of this
mod: flourifliing manufadure to the inven-
tive genius of Mr. Wedgwood -y who not
only originally introduced the prefent cream
coloured ware, but has fince been the in-
ventor of every improvement, the other
manufadlurers being little bcuer than
mere imitators y which is not a fortu-
nate circumftance, as it is unljcky to
have the fate of fo important a ma-
nufa'fture depend upon the i bread of one
man's lii^?: However, ne has lately entered
into a partnerlhip with a man of fenfe and
fpirit, who will have talle enough to con-
tinue in tho mventing plan, and not fufftr,
in cafe of accidents, the manufacture to de-
cline.

I took the opportunity of being at Bur^
Jlem, to view the .irn?.zmg works carrying
on at Harecajile. Tho navigation I men-
tioned in defcribing that of the LVikc of
'X 3 Biidgc-^

[ 3^^ ]
Bridgewatery promoted by my Lord Gower,
and carried on by fablcription, to join the
ports of Ht^// and Liverpool, is carried
acrofs the kingdom, without any very ma-
terial interruption, except at Harecajlle i
but there it follows a valley, which, ccn^^
trary to moft, terminates againft hills, with-
out any winding around them ; fo that the
navigation muft either be here flopped,
and a land carriao-e, like the American ones,
at the falls in their rivers, be the confe-
quence, or the range of hills which faced
them pierced through : The attempt was
an immenfe one 5 but it is made, and will
undoubtedly fucceed.

The tunnel, in the Duke o( Bridge-ivaters
navigation, is of a fmall breadth, as it is
the termination of the canal, and boats
made on puipofe for entering it ; but Hare-
cajik being almoft in the center of a navi-
gation of an hundred miles, a fubterrane
muft of necefTity be fpacious enough to ad-
mit all the traffic of the canal, pafling and
reoaffing, or it would be ufelefs. The ca-
nal is therefore carried under-ground in its
common breadth and depth ; it is twelve
iect v/idc, and nine high ; and will extend
under an high range of country above a

mile

[ 3:> ]

mile and half. The hm efumate, or ra-
ther llippQlition of the expence, was
10,00c/. but it is now faid that tliat fum
will prove very infiifficient ; the immen-
fity of the undertaking not having (rela-
tive to the ellimate) been duly confiiered.

It is certainly an amazing work j about
four hundred yards of it are hniflied. The
method of working, is linking ihafts like
thofe of coal pits, in a line over the courie
of the canal ; engines are then erected,
and the earth, rock, coal, and all the fub-
ftances that rife, drawn up by a horfe, which
is kept regularly employed in drawing up
the ItutT, as fait as the workmen dig it be-
low, in hollowing out the cavern : It is
walled, paved, and arched, a= they nniili.
Other machines, worked bv wind and wa-
ter, are ere<lted alfo to draw up the water :
The whole work is carried on regularly,
and all obftruCtions removed as fait as they
are difcovered. In a word, the lucceis of
the work is not doubted ; but as to the
extent of the expence, it cannot admit of
calculation, as it is impotiible to ccnjecflure
the nature of the llrata they will have to
cut through, the hardnefs of the rock, or
the Quantities cr v/ater with which they
X JL v.- ill

[ 312 ]

will be troubled. I was told that the na-
vigation will be in fome places near two
hundred feet below the furface.

By fuch noble undertakings is the pre-
fent age peculiarly diftinguifhed. When
agriculture, manufactures, and commerce
flourifh, a nation grows rich and great,
and riches cannot abound, without exciting
that general induftry, and fpirit for im-
provement, which at laft leads to perform-
ing works, which, in poorer times, would
be thought v/onders.

At Newcajlle is a confiderable manufac-
ture of (hoes and hats ; the firll; em>ploys
above an hundred hands, who earn from
lo^. to 2 J. 1 day. Of the latter there are
three or four hund'-ed ; the men earn fiom
7J-. to lo J-. a week.

Women, 3 j^. to 6 j.

Children, i/.

P R O V I S I O N S, <S*r.

Bread — maflin, \d^
Cheefe, 3^.
Butter, 8 d.
Beef, 3 d.
Mutton, 3 dy
Veal, 3 d^

Milk,

t 313 ]

Milk, \d. per pint.

Potatoes, 4^. per peck.

Poor's houfe rent, 40 j. to 3 /. iOf.

— — firing, 20 J-. to 25 /.

From Newcafile fouth wards the country
improves greatly in beauty : 1 he foil to-
wards Stone is generally a Tandy loam. A-
bout that place it is alfo fandy, on a bed of
marie -, lets from Newcajile to Stone, and
alfo around that place, from 12 s, to 20 j-.
per acre. Farms are various, rifing from 30/.
to 500/. a year. Their courfes are chiefly,

1. Fallow

2. Wheat

3. Oats

4. Barley

5. Clover two or three years

6. Oats

7. Beans.

A vile, as well as ftrange courfe.
Another is,

1. Fallow

2. Wheat

3. Oats

4. Barley

5. Turneps

6. Barley

7. Clever,

Which

t 3H ]

Which IS almoft as odd as the other.

The average produdts of corn are.
Of Wheat, 22 bufhels
Barley, 30
Oats, 40

Beans, 30
Peafe, 25

For turneps they plough three times :
Good farmers hoe them twice : The ave-
rage value from 50 j-. to 3/. 10 J". They
life them both for fheep and beafts. Clover
they fow with ipring corn, mow it the
firfl year, and get about a ton and half of
hay at a mowing.

Their method of cultivating potatoes,
is to dung grafs land well, and dig it in,
which cofts 'jd. a perch ; then dibble in the
flices (tho' fome farmers plant them whole.)
While they are growing they are hand-
hoed and kept clean. The produce ^co
bufhels at an average.

The chief manure in this country is
marie, which is generally laid on the ara-
ble lands at the rate of 120 loads per acre,
each twenty-five hundred vt^eight ; if the
marie pit is at any diftance, the expence
will be 10 /. or 12 /. per acre ; but if it is
on the fame piece, it will be done for

3/-

[ 315 ]

3 /. 1 o X. or 4 /. They likewife ufc a little
lime ; find it anfwers bed on cold fpringy
land ; they lay it on the fallows twenty
bufliels per acre ; the price ^\d. per bufhel.
They know nothing of chopping the bub-
bles, but flack their hay at home.

Good grafs letts at 30 j-. per acre ; it Is
chiefly uled for dairying : One acre they
reckon fufficient for the fummer feed of a
cow. Some few farmers marie it.

The breed of cattle is the long horned :
The oxen fat from forty-eight to eighty
fcore. The product of a cow they reckon.

Three hundred weight of /. j.

cheefe, at 27 x. - 4 i

Butter, - - - o 10

Calfi - - - o 10

The average quantity of milk five gal-
lons a day. They keep about four hogs to
ten cows, which is alfo the number they
reckon proper for a dairy maid to look
after. The winter food is hay and ftraw ;
the quantity of the firfl is various j but
many farmers give their cows very little
hay, fo that the quantity rifes from five

hundred

[ 3i6 ]

hundred weight to a ton. Keep them in
a houfe.

They fat their hogs from fifteen to thirty-
five fcore.

No account could be taken of their
flocks of fheep, as they in general only
winter them.

In their tillage they reckon eight horfes
neceffary for the management of an hun-
dred acres of arable : They ufe three or
four in a plough, and do an acre and a
quarter, and an acre and a half in a
day. The annual expence of a horfe they
reckon 7/.

They do not break up their flubbles for
a fallow till after barley fowing. The
price of ploughing per acre is 5 s. and the
common depth four inches. They know
nothing of cutting ftraw into chaff.

The hire of a cart, three horfes, and
driver, per day, is 5 s.

In the hiring and flocking of farms, they
reckon 350/. a fufficient fum to take one
of 100/. a year.

Land fells from thirty to forty- five years
purchafe.

Tythes are both gathered and com-
pounded f if the latter.

Wheat

t 317 ]

Wheat from 3 /. to 5 /,
Barley, 3 s.
Oats, 2 s.
Hay, IS. 6 d.
Poor rates is. 6 d. m the pound. Idle-
nefs the chief employment of the women
and children : All drink tea, and fly to the
parillies for relief, at the very time that
even a woman for wafhing is not to be
had. hy many accounts I received of
the poor in this neighbourhood, I appre-
hend the rates are burthened for the
ipreading lazinefs, drunkennefs, tea-drink-
ing, and debauchery : — The general effedt
of them, indeed, all over the kingdom.

Leafes are various, both for terms from
feven to twenty-one years, and for two and
three lives.

The general ceconomy will be (ttn. from
the following particulars of farms*
400 acres in all
150 arable
250 grafs
£, 300 rent
12 horf&s
36 cows
12 fatting beails
30 young cattle

50 Ihecp

f 3'S J

50 /heep

3 men

1 boy

2 maids

6 labourers

2 waggons

3 carts

3 ploughs.
Another,

200 acres in all
•90 arable
iiograis
JC'^S^ rent

9 hories
20 cows

3 fatting beafb
20 young cattle
20 fheep

2 men

I boy

2 maids

3 labourers

I waggon

3 carts

3 ploughs.
Another,

90 acres m al!
30 arable

60 grafs

t 319 ]

60 grafs
^.60 rent
4 horfes
6 cows

8 young cattle
I man
I boy
I maid

1 labourer
3 carts

2 ploughs.
Another, •

140 acres in all
no grafs
70 arable
^.115 rent

8 horfes
1 4 cows

6 fatting beads
1 2 young cattle
10 fheep

2 men

I boy

I maid

£ labourers

1 waggon

2 carts

3 ploughs.

Another,

t 320

Another,

125 acres ia all
80 arable
45 grafs
^.100 rent
8 horfes
15 cows
2 men

1 boy

2 maids

3 labourers
I waggon
3 carts

3 ploughs.
Another,

50 acres in all
35 arable
15 grafs
£-45^ent

4 horfes
4 cows

3 young catfele

1 man

2 carts

I plough.

LABOUR.

[ 321 ]

LABOUR.

In harveft, i s. 6 d. and beer.
In hay time, i s. 2 d. and ditto.
In winter, i s. and ditto.
Reaping per acre, .4 s. 6 d.
Mowing barley, 1 s. bd.

oats, I J-. A^d,

' grafs, I /. 4 ^.

Hoeing turneps, 41. 6d.

beans, 2s. 6 d.

Ditching, 4 ^. — eight yards.
Threfhing wheat, 4 j-. 6d. twenty bufliels.

barley, 3 j-. 4 ^.

• oats, 22 d. to 2s. 6d.

beans, 4 j. 6 d.

Filling marie cart 5 s. pe?' 1 20 loads, and

board.
Fird man's wattes, 8 /.
Next ditto, 6 /.

Boy of ten or twelve years, 3 /.
Dairy maids, 3/. ioj".
Other ditto, 3 /. 10 s.
Women per day in harvcH:, 7 d. and beer.

In hay time ditto.

Value of a man's board, waflilng, and lodg-
ing, 6/. IOJ.

Vol. HI. Y I M-

[ 322 ]

IMPLEMENTS, &c.

A waggon, 20 /.

A cart, 1 2 /.

A plough, i4.f.

A harrow, 1 8 j.

A roller, 9 /. to 10/. for corn.

A fey the, 3^. 6^/.

A fpade, 3 j. 6 ^.

Shoeing, i s. 4^/.

P R O V I S I O N S, e?(r.

Bread— Wheat, i \ cL

Cheefe, 3 i ^.

Butter, J {d.

Beef, 2 i ^/.

Mutton, 3 I d.

Pork, 3 I d.

Bacon, 5 d.

Milk, { ^/. ^fr pint.

Potatoes, 4 i r/. per peck.

Candles, 7 ^. pa^ l^.

Soap, 6 ^.

Houfe-rent, 2s. 6d. to 20/.

BUILD-

BUILDING.

Bricks, per thoufand, 1 1 j-. 6 d,
Tilco, I 7 s.

Oak timber, ij-. 2d. to zs.
Afli, II d. to J s. 3 d.
Hlrn, 9 ^/. to 1 J-. 3 d.
Carpenter /'d'r day, is. 6 d,
Malbn, is. od.
Thatcher, i s. and board.

The country continues to improve to-
wards Rudgeley Bridge : About that place
the foil is various ; clay, fandy gravel, and
loams. The average rent of the arable is
14 J-. and the grafs zos.

Farms rife from 20/. to 100/. a year.

The courfcs,

1 . Fallow

2. Wlieat

3. Barley

4. Barley.

An(

I.. Fallow

2. Wheat

3. Oats

4. Clover, three years.

Y 2 Alfo,

[ 3-^ ]
Alfo,

1. Fallow

2. Barley

3. Turneps

4. Barley.

From Rudgcley Bridge to Lichjield land
lets from 20 j, to 3 /. an acre; average about
25 J". Farms from 20 /. to 200 /. a year.

About Shenjione the foil is light, fandy,
and gravelly ; lets at 15 j-. an acre upon a
medium. Farms from 20/. to 400/.

The courfe,

1. Turneps

2. Barley

3. Barley

4. Clover, two or three years :
Some farmers continue this courfe as

follows ;

5. Wheat

6. Oats.

They plough thrice for wheat, fow two
bufhels, and reap on an average twenty-
five. For barley they ftir twice, fow three
and an half or four bufliels, and gain upon
a medium forty. Oats they generally fow
on turf, plough it once, fow four bulliels,
and reckon the mean crop at forty-five.

Thev

[ 325 ]
They fow a few peafc ; and upon turncp
land fow four hufliels pc?' acre, and gain
about thirty in return.

For rye they fiir twice ; fometimcs fow it
on turf on one earth : two bulliels of feed :
the crop thirty. For turneps they plough
thrice : hoeing is coming into fafhion
pretty fifl -, about half the crops in the
country being now hoed : but they do it
only once : the value of the hoed crop
3 5 J. ^^r acre, but the unhoed ones only
2.0 s. which one would apprehend a fuffi-
cient argument even to convince farmers
themfelves. They ufe them chiclly for
fliecD.

Clover they fow with fpring corn, mow
it but once, and <?ain about two ton of hav
■per acre. Their culture of potatoes confifls
in dunging grafs land, and digging it in ;
they then dibble in the potatoe fiiccs ten
inches from each ; and while growing
hand hoe them well. The average produce
per acre is about four hundred hufliels : —
They fow wheat after them, and get fine

croDS.

They have fomc marlc, but not in large
quantities ; being uncertain v/hcrc to find
it : it is an excellent manure : the colour

Y 3 is

[ 3-6 ]

is red : they lay fixty three-horfe cart loads
on an acre. Lime is the principal manure ;
they lay eight quarters per aci^e ; it lafts
good two years, and cods as. 6d. a quar-
ter, with carriage. They neither fold their
iheep, nor chop their itubbles. They find
the beft method of ufing theit dung is to
make compofls of it with ditch- fluff and
earth.

They drain many of their wet lands,
dig them from two to three feet and a half
deep, four in width at bottom, and four-
teen at top, fill up with flones a foot deep,
then lay in the fods and earth.

Good grafs land lets from 20 s. to 2^s.
per acre. It is moflly ufed for dairying :
an acre they reckon fufiicient to fummer
feed a cow : the befl farmers manure it
with compofts of dung and earth.

The breed of cattle is the Ion?- horns;
oxen fat from fixty to eighty flone : they
reckon the annual product at 5/. loj-. or
6 /. The average quantity of milk per day
fix gallons. To twenty cows they keep-
about fix hogs. The winter food is flraw;
and at, and after calving, hay. The calves
for killing, fuck three or four weeks; but
for rearing, not at all. Ten cows is the

number

[ 3^7 ]
number a dairy maid generally takes care
of. The lummer joill: is 30 j. and in win-
ter they reckon a cow to eat i 5 c'lvt. of hay
on an average; they then keep them in the
fcirmyard

Upon fitting a beaft of forty fcore they
reckon 40 j. profit.

Their hogs fat up to twenty fcore.

Their flocks of flieep rife from ten to
two hundred, the profit varies from 8/. to
2.0 s. The winter and fpring food is
turnepsj the joiil upon which 4^/. per
week. The average fleece 8 lb.

In their tillage they reckon fix horfcs
necefiary for the management of an hun-
dred acres of arable land, ufe three or four
in a plough, and do an acre a day.

The annual expence of a horfe they rec-
kon at io/. The fummer joill: is 50/.
There are a few ox teams, but horfes are
fuppofed to be much the bed, fo that the
number decreafes. They do not break up
their flubbles for a fallow till the fpring.
The price of ploughing 5 j. /"^r acre; the
depth from two to four inches. Many
farmers cut ftraw into chaff; which is the
\ 4 firll

[ 328 ]

firft time I have met with the pradicc this
age.

The hire of a cart, three horfes and a
driver a day, is 7J.

In {locking farms they reckon 250/. fuf-
ficient for one of 100/. a year.

Lands fell at fiom thirty to thirty-five
years purchafe. There are many fmall
eftatesofioo, 200, and 300/. a year.

Tythes are both gathered and compoun-
ded, if the latter

Wheat 4 J.
Barley 3 s.
Oats 2 J. 6 J.
Peafe 2s. 6d.
Poor rates bd. in the pound; the women
and children are in idlenefsj but tea-
drinkers.

The farmers carry their corn ten miles.
Leafes are generally for terms of feven or
■ fourteen years; but fome for two and three
lives.

The following particulars of farms
will fhew the general economy of the
country.

'oo acres

[ 329 ]

yoo acres in nil
300 arable
400 grafs
jf.4.00 rent
10 horfcs
12 draft oxen
26 cows
30 fatting beafts
200 (heep (and more in winder)
4 men
2 boys
4 maids
10 labourers.
Another,

250 acres in all
130 arable
120 grafs
jr.2io rent
8 horfes
8 oxen
1 5 cows
40 fheep

2 men
I boy

3 labourers.
Another,

100 acres in all

60 arable

40 grafs

[ 330 ]

40 grafs
j(;. 70 rent

6 horfes
10 cows

2 fatting hearts
20 flieep

2 men

1 boy

2 maids

2 labourers.
Another,

85 acres in all
50 arable
35 g''^^s
£. 70 rent

4 horfes
6 cows

5 fatting beads
I man

I boy

] maid

I labourer.
Another,

60 acres in all
40 arable
20 grafs

I' 40 rent
4 horfes

cows

[ 331 ]
5 jcows
10 fheep
I boy
I maid.
Another,

30 acres in all
1 o arable
20 grals
X;.2 5 rent

3 horfes

4 cows.

LABOUR,

In harveft, is. and beer.

In hay-time, ditto.

In winter, I0(^. and ditto.

Reaping wheat, y s. to i o j-. per acre.

Mowing corn, 2 s. to 2 s. 6 d.

gi'^ii's, 2 J-. to 3 J-.

Hoeing turneps, 5 s.
Ditching, 6d, per eight yards.
Threihi ng wheat, 4^. per bulliel.

barley, 2 d.

' oats, I f d. to 2 d.

beans, id to 2d.

Digging, 6d. per eight yards fquare.
Amount of a year's earnings of a la-
bourer, I 5 /.

Firft

[ 33^ ]

Firft man's wages, i o /. to 12/.
Next ditto, 6 /. to 7 /.
Boy of ten or twelve years, 50/.
Dairy maids, 3 /. to 5 /.
Other ditto, ^os.

Women per day in harveft, 6 d. and board.
In hay time, ditto.
In winter, ^J. and beer.
Value of a man's board, wafhing, and
lodging, 9/.

IMPLEMENTS.

A waggon, 20/. .

A cart, 7 /. to 9 /.
A plough, 2 1 J.
A harrow, 21s.
A fey the, 4J-. 6 d.
A fpade, 3 j-. 6 d.

Laying a fliare and coulter, S d. to is. 4^.
Shoeing, is. 4 d.

Harnefs, 25^. ^^rhorfe j ufe the fame both
for carting and ploughing.

PROVISIONS, &c.

Maiiin bread, id.
Cheefe, 2I d.
Butter, 8 ^. 1 6 to ig cz.
Beef, 2 ' d.

Mutton,

[ 333 ]

Mutton, 2\d,

Pork, 3 d.

Milk, i d. per pint.

Potatoes, ^d. /»^r peck.

Candles, 7 d.

Soap, 6 ^.

Labourer's houfe rent, 20 j*. to 50 j-.

firing, 30J-. Much hedge breaking.

Coals, 4^. per hundred weight.
Faggots, 6 s. to 9 J. /^r 120.

BUILDING.

Bricks, iis. 6d. />^r thoufand.
Oak timber, is. ^d. to 2s,
Elm, 20^.

Carpenter, is. 6d. a day.
Farm houfes of brick and tile.

The preceding huibandry continued for
fome diftance towards Birmingham. At
u^Jion I made particular enquiries, and
found feveral variations.

The foil is all fandy ; lets from i 5 j-. to
20 J", an acre. Farms moflly fmall, but
from twenty to two hundred.

The courfes,

1 . Turneps

2. Barley

3. Oats

[ 334 ]

3- Oats

4. Clover two years, Ibme few add

5, Wheat;
And,

1 . Turneps

2. Barley

3. Oats

4. Clover

5. Oats.

For wheat they plough four times, fow
two builiels and a half, and reap from
twenty-three to twenty-five. They give
three flirrings for barley, fow from three to
four bufhels, and reckoa twenty-five the
average produce. For oats they give but
one earth, fow five bufliels, and gain upon
a medium four quarters. They plough
but once for peafe, fow three buil:iels, and
fometimes hand-hoe them; the crop twenty
bufliels. Turneps they prepare for by three
ftirrings ; hoeing is now common ; gene-
rally once, and fometimes twice : The
average value 401. per acre. They reckon
the hoed crops better than the unhoed
by 20 s. an acre ; they are ufed for fbeep
and beafcs. Clover they fow with fpring
corn, mow it once, and gain about a ton

and

[ 335 ]
and a half of hay per acre. A little buck,
wheat is cultivated for fwine.

For potatoes they dig up grafs land, and
dibble in the fetts , get fine crops oF five
or fix hundred bufliels per acre ; and very
good wheat after them.

Lime is their principal manure ; they
lay nine quarters per acre, at z s. a quar-
ter, befides leading ; they mix it with
dung, earth, cifr.

Hollow draining is not uncommon in
this country ; they dig them from two to
four feet deep, generally until they come
to a bed of gravel : They fill them up
a foot deep with furnace, cinders, heath,
ling, &c. ^c. They are from four to
eight inches wide at bottom, and twenty
inches, or two feet, at top.

Good grafs land letts from 20 s. to 40 s.
an acre. Moft of it is applied to feeding
covv^s, for fupplying Birmmgham with milk.
Many farmers manure it. The prodivift of
cows in that way amounts from 6 /. to 10/.
a cow J a middling one will give fix or
{^v^w gallons a day. The winter food is
hay alone, of which they cat in general
three hundred weight a week. The calves
do not fuck above two weeks : The fum-

mer

[ 336 ]
mer joifl per cow is is. 6d. ■sl week : In
the winter, after calving, they are kept in
the houfc.

Sheep are kept only by farmers that
have a right of commonage j the profit
they calculate at 8 j. a head. The average
fleece, two pounds and a half to three
pounds.

In their tillage they reckon fix horfes
necefiary for the management of an hun-
dred acres of arable land : They ufe two
or three in a plough, and do an acre a day.
The annual expence per horfe they cal-
culate at 5 /. The fummer joift 2 x. a
week.

They break up their fallows for turneps
at Chrijimas ; the depth of ftirring in ge-
neral from three to fix inches : Much ftraw
is here cut into chaff.

The hire of a cart, three horfes, and
driver, 5 j-. to 5 s. 6 d.

Many farmers hire farms of 100/. a
year, with 350/. but it was the opinion of
feveral fenfible hufbandmen I converfed
Vv^ith, that upv/ards of 500/. is neceffary to
do it completely. That fum they divided
as follows :

30 cows.

[ ^Z7 ]

30 cows.

£■■

210

6 horfes,

60

2 waggons.

-

35

2 carts.

-

10

Harnefs,

-

6

Sundry fmall articles.

-

6

Rent,

-

50

Rates,

-

10

Houfekeeping, two m<

:n, two

maids, two boys.

and the

farmer and wife,

-

60

Seed,

-

^5

Hogs, - - -

-

4

Wages,

-

28

Labourers,

»

25

519

Land fells at thirty years purchafe.
Tythcs are in general compounded, per

acre, vo

Wheat, 5 s.
Barley, 2.s. 6d.
Oats, 2 s. 6 d,
Peafe, 2 s. 6 d.
Poor rates, i/. to u. 6^.
The employment of the women and
children fpinning : All drink tea.

Leafes are various, both lives and terms.
Vol. IIL Z The

[ 338 ]

The following fketches of farms will
(hew the general oeconomy :
86 acres in all
26 arable
60 grafs
jC- 75 rent
3 horfes
15 cows

1 man

2 maids ir.

2 carts

I plough.
Another,

70 acres in all
20 arable
50 grafs
£.55 rent

3 horfes
^- 12 cows

I boy

1 maid

2 carts

I plough.
Another,

40 acres all grafs
^.40 rent
12 cows
I hor^

t bov.

[ 339 ]
I boy.
Another,

35 acres all grafs
£.^o rent
1 1 cows
I horfe
I boy.
I maid.

LABOUR.

Inbarvefl, is. and board.

In hay time, ditto.

In winter, 8 d. and ditto.

Reaping, 4^. 6d. to ^s, per acre.

Mowing corn, is. 6^.

grafs, 2 J. ,

Hoeing turneps, 5/.
Ditching, 4 ^. to 8 d.
Threfhing wheat, 4 d. per buihel.

^— barley, 3^.

■ oats, zd.

Digging, 6^/. a rood.
Firft man's wages, 7 /. -to 8 /.
Next ditto, 4 /. I o J-. to 5 /. 10 j".
Boy of ten or twelve years, 40 j".
Dairy maids, 3/. to 3 /. loj-.
Other ditto, ditto.

Z 2 Women

r 340 3

Women per day In harvell, 6d. and beer.
In hay time, tiiLtO.

IMPLEMENTS.

A waggon, 20/.

A^cart, 6/.

A plough, 2 1 s.

A harrow, 15 j.

A barley roller, 15/.

A fey the, 2 J. 6 ^. to 3 j. 6 d.

A fpade, 3 j. 6 ^. ,

Shoeing, u". 6d,

PROVISIONS, ^c.

Wheat bread, iilb, for is.

Cheefe, 2\ d.

Butter, 8 d.

Beef, 2.1 d.

Mutton, id.

Pork, 3^^. to 4^.

Milk, f d. per pint

Potatoes, 4 ^. /J^T peck.

Candles, j d.

Soan, t\ d.

Labourer's houfe rent, 30^. to ^os,

firing, 20 J-. to 30/.

— tools, 7 J. 6^/.

Coals,

r 341 ]

Coals, 1 2 J", a ton.
Faggots, 16 J. 120.

BUILDING.

Bricks, I IX. per thoufand.
Tiles, 12 J.

Oak timber, u. to 2 j. 6 d,
Afh ditto, IJ-. to 2J-.
Elm, I J. to I J-. 6 d.
Carpenter a day, \s, S d.
Mafon ditto, is. S d.
Their labourers, is. .\.d.

Having finiflied fo long an epifde, you
mufl allow me to conclude, tiiat I am, (^c.

T-

[ 342 )

LETTER XXI.

I Was no where more dirappointed than
at Birmingham 'y where I could not
gain any intelligence even of the mod
common nature, through the exceffivejea-
loufy of the manufadturers. It feems the
French have carried oif feveral of their
fabricks, and thereby injured the town
not a little : this makes them fo cautious,
that they will fhew Grangers fcarce any
thing; it was even v/ith fome difficulty that
I gained the following flight intelligence.
Manufatfturers of all forts.

Men earn 'js. to 3/. per week.
Women, zs. 6d. to js.
Children, i s 6d, to 4 j. 6 ^.
About 28,000 fouls calculated in the
town.

The manufacfture more flourifhing thani
ever in the war ; fell upon the peace, and
has of late arofe again, but not near equal
to its former height.

From ihis tr vvn I pointed my way to the!'
Lca/swes, the iccd of the late Mr. Shenftone,

now

J

[ 343 ]
now of Capt. 'Turnpenny. \\\ that line of
country land lets at an average at iis. j^r
acre. Farms from 20/. to 200/. a year.

In this country is dug the famous blazing
cannel coal.

Arriving at Hales OwenyWc walked up to
the Leajhwes ; but here I llirald intimate,
that as the late Mr. Dodjley gave a parti-
cular account of thefe grounds in fo popular
a book as Sbenjiones Works, I fliall only
minute a few circumftances, either omitted
in that account, or finiOied fince it was
wrote : And take the liberty of remarking
wherein Mr. Dodjley fell (hort of, or exag-
gerated, the beauty of his original.

The cafcade, viewed from the root houfe
infcribed to the Earl of Stamford, is afto-
nifliingly romantic; a large fpace of ground
at your feet, for above an hundred and ^iiy
yards, is thickly covered with the ftems of
fine oaks Gfc. a fall of water at the farther
end of this ground firfl: breaks to your view,
and then forms twenty more before it reach-
es you, all broke into difl:in(5t flieets, wild-
ly irregular, by the intervening and crofling
flems of the trees above; their branches
and leaves form a fine thick canopy of (liade,
which fetts off moH: glorioufly the ilieets
Z 4 of

[ 344 ]
of water, which here and there meet the
fun beams and fparkle in the eve. This
intermixture of v/ood and water is amazing-
ly fine.

From the bench infcrihed

To ail friends round tJo3 Wrckiuy
You look down upon a very beautiful va-
riety of unequal ground i all waving cul-
tivated inclofures, finely fcattered with
houf^s, villages, ^c. the pools appear-
ing in broken flieets among the wood in
the vallev: At the bottom of the flooe
is a kind of river, but the end is badly
hid wich a little trifling; CJji'/icle brid7e :
hovv'ever, from the Ipot, which Mr. Dodf-
It'y calls a cavity in a fmall thicket filled
with trees, the ferpentine fiiream has a
better effect.

After this, we next meet with a green
bench with this infcription :

" While Nati:re here

''• Wantons as in her prinie, and pl.ivs at will
" Mcr virgin fancies."

It Is well pkiced, commanding a fvveet va-
riety of wood, water, and v/avcs of culti-
vated inclofures.

The

r 345 ]

The walk and feat marked

Div!?ii Gloria Run's !
in Mr. Dodjly, is no where to be found.

The view {vQm.Tl^o?nfons feat is exquifite
and inimitable ; fweetly varied; the water
admirably managed : Jn a word, it is a
little fccne of enchantment. I took a
llcetch of the cafcade upon the left,
which will give a faint idea of one beauty
oat of many.

From Hales Owen we took the road to
Hagley-, the feat of Lord Littleton. The
houfe is an excellent living one ; a v/ell-
defigned mean between the vafc piles
raifed for magnificence, and thofe fmaller
ones, in which convenience is alone con-
fidered.

The Hail is thirty iz<tl fquare : \i is orna-
mented with Statues of Veirus de Medicls,
Bacchus, &c. &c. and various buds: The
Jlercukss which fupport the cornice of the
chimney piece are heavy : Here are likewife
bafs relieves, (^c.

The Library, thirty three by twenty
five, is a good room; the ceiling orna-
mented with fjroUs of flucco v/ork. Here

are pictures :

Ricbardfon.

[ 346 ]

Rkhardfon. Tope, and his dog Bounce*
Aickman. Thompfon.

Gilbert Weft.

The Dreiiing-room is twenty-one feet
fquare.

Van Capen. Poultry.
Wotton. "Landfcape. Fine ; but there

is a light on the goats in the

corner, which does not feem in

uniibn with the ref^.
yonfon. Lady hittletoriy wife of Sir

Thomas.
Zuccharo, Sir John Littleton,
Van Somer. Sir Thomas Littleton,
jonfon. Sir Alexaiider Temple,

Mirevelt. Prince oi Orange.
Greenhill. Mr. Henry Littleton.
Corn.yon/Gn.lj^idLy Crompton. Very fine.
Ditto. Queen oi Booemia.

Ditto. A Lady unknown.

Dohfon. Prince Maurice.

Honthrujl. Sir K. Stainmore.

In the Crimfon Bed-chamber,

Le Fevre. Dutcheis of Port/mouth.
Reynolds. Lord Littleton.
Williams. Mifs Fortefcue, his firft Lady.

In

[ 347 J
In the Beft Dreffing room, twenty fquarc,

an elegant chimney piece of white marble,

the cornice fupported by ionic pillars. The

ceiling white ornaments in ftacco on a lead

coloured ground. Here are

Vandyke. The three Maries and a dead
Chriji. Exceedingly fine; ad-
mirably grouped \ the colours
mod expreflive.

Storck, A fea piece.

Lely. A lady unknown.

BrugheL A landfcapej moft minutely
expreffive.

"Unknown. A fea piece. Alfo Views of
Persfield.

Houfeman. Charles II, and Queen.

Wotton. A Landfcape. Very fine.

Glow. Horfes.

Cypriani. Arcadian {hepherds. The at-
titudes and groupes exceedingly
pleafing. Colours brilliant.

Viviano. An Alto relievo. Fine and
fpirlted.

Lely. L. Gary.

Wyck, A battle piece: In the fllle of

Borgognone.

Cypriani. The triumph of Bacchus; a

drawinG;. Fine.

The

[ 348 1
The Saloon, thirty-fix by thirty. The
chimney-piece very beautiful, oi Siena and
white marble; the cornice fupported by
ionic pillars. In the centre of the frieze
three boys in white marble poliflied, and
on each fide a fcroU of w^hite on a Siena
ground. Here are
Rubens, The marriage of Neptune and

Cybele. The lady is a Rubens

figure with a vengeance, and her

attitude difgufting.
Vandyke. Earl and Countefs of Carlijle^

Very fine.
Titian. Venus reconciling herfelf to

o

PJycbe. Her figure clumfy but
fomewhat more delicate thani^z^-
hens\\ His attitude very expref-
five, but not of the fubjedl. Co-
lours fine, but their brilliancy

Baffan.

Vandyke
'Jervois.

gone off.

yacob and his family. Prodi-
gious fine. The minute ftrength
of exprefiion in the figures to the
left f^rcat.

The royal family.

Charles I. and his Queen.

The

[ 349 ]
The Drawing-room, thirty-four by twen-
ty-two. The chiiiincy- piece IcroUs cC
white marble trailed on SieruT, elc^-ant.
Lord Bathy by Ramfay, over it, inclofed
in ornaments, elegantly carved and ^^ilt.
The cieling an oval, in the centre, Fijnu
by Cypriani; and in the corners the Sci-
fons : Her attitude elegant, and the co-
lours pleafing. The glafs frames in this
room are elegantly carved and gilt. Slabs
of Siciza marble.

Ram/ay. Earl of Hardwicke.

Van ho. Earl of Chejierjitid.

Ditto. Lord Cobham.

Unknown. Mr. Pelhanz.

The Gallery, eighty-five by twenty-two,
in three divilions, formed by double Corin-
thian pillars. The chimney-piecc, glaft,
table frames, and the girandoles carved in
black and Vvdiite.
Vandyke. Virgin and child. Very noble :
Her attitude incomparably fine :
The air of her head i^reat : The
child noble.
Ditto. Countefs of Bedford.

Lcly. Mifs Broivii.

Ditto. Lord BrcKr.c ::.:?•.

The

[ 35^ ]

The Dining-room, thirty-three by twen-
ty-fix. Here are,
ZiicchareUi. Landfcape; a waterfall, and

bridge 3 pleaiing.
Ditto, Another 3 water, and a boat.

Ditto.
Wilfon. Landfcape; ditto.

But what at Hagley is moft worthy
of notice, is the grounds, which Lord
Littleton has difpofed with the utmoft
tafte.

The walk from the houfe leads through
a wood, by the fide of a purling ftream,
which meanders over grafs from out a dark
hollow 'y you pafs a gufh of water, which
falls into it, and winding higher up the
hill, turn by the fide of another brook,
which gurgles through a rocky hollow;
another gufliing fall, over bits of rock, at-
tracts your notice; which paffing, you
come to the Prince of Walesa ftatue. This
Ipot commands a fine view of the diftant
country over the houfe.

Winding from hence through the wood,
you look to the left upon diftant grounds,
until you come to a feat, infcribed to Thom^
foriy in thefc lines :

Ingenia

[ 35« 1

Inq;enio immortali

J A c o B I Thomson-,

Poetns Sublimis.

Viri boni

^diculam hanc in fecefiu quem viviis dllexir,

Poft mortem ejus conftrudam,

Dicat dedicatqiie,

GeORGIUS LfTTLETO^r.

From hence you look down on a fine
lawn, and, in front, upon a noble bank of
hanging wood, in which appears a temple.
To the left a dillant view of Malvern
hills.

From hence pafling a well, called after
the patriarch, from which you have a dl-
ftant view of a hill over tlie wood, you
enter a grove of oaks, in which you catch
a glance at the caftle, through the trees,
on the top of the hill, beautifully rifing
out of a bank of wood.

Next we came to an ionic rotunda, in-
clofed in a beautiful amphitheatre of wood ;
it looks down upon a piece of water in
the hollow of a grove, at the end of which
is a palladian bridge. The fcene is pleaf-
ing. From hence the path winds through
a fine wood of oaks, in which is a bench,

l.y

t ?>s^ ]

hy the Tide of a trickling rill, Vv'ith this
infcription :

Inter cuncla leges, et per cunftabere do6los.
Qua ratione queas traducere leniter cevum,
Qiiid minuat curas, quid te tibi redJat amlcum,
Qiiid pure tranquillet, honos an dulce lucellum,
An fccretum iter, et fallentls femita vita?.

Which lines are well fuited to the fe^
queftred retired fpot in which they are
placed. The path then leads, by the
ftrcara, r^nd under the trees, to a fine open
lawn inclofed by -wood ; at cne end an
urn infcribed to Pope :

Alexandp.o Pope,

Postarum Anglicanornm elegantiflimo, dulcif-

fimaque.

Vitiorum Caftigatori acerrlmo,

Sapientife dodtori fuaviffimo.

Sacra efto.

1744.

Faffing two benches, and a flight gufh
©f water, you rife to the ruined caftle ;
from the top of which is a \try beautiful
viev/, down upon the woods, lawns, Hopes,
&c. and prodigiouily extenlive profpecfl
over the country. JVorceJier, Diidicy, the

[ 353 ]

Clee Hillsy are a part of the fccnc; tlie
JVrekin, at forty miles, and, it is faid,
Radnor-tumpy at eighty miles diftance.

Following the path, you pafs a triangu-
lar water, the meaning of which I do not
underftand, and walk down under the
fliade of oaks, by the fide of a winding
woody hollow, to the feat of contem-
plation,

Sedes Contemplationis,
Omnia Vanitas.

The view is only down into the hollow
among the trees. Next we came to the
hermitage, which looks down on a piece
of water, in the hollow, thickly fl^aded
with tall trees, over which is a fine view
of diftant country. This water is fome-
w^hat too regular. In the hermitage this
infcription :

" And may, at laft, my weary age
*' Find out the peaceful hermitage,
" The hairy gown, and mofly ccli,
" Where I may fit, and rightly fpell
" Of every ftar that heaven doth fliew,
*' And every herb that fips the dew,
** Till old experience do attain,
" To fomething like prophetic drain.
Vol. IH. A ^ " Thefe

[ 354 ]

" Thefe pleafures, Melancholy, give,
" And I with thee will chufe to live."

// Penferofo.

Winding down, you come to a root
cave by the water's edge ; a retired fpot ;
and at the other end of the pond a cave of
Sjrotto work.

Coming out of the grove, and ridng the
hill, you command to the left, as you
move, a mofc beautiful view of the coun-
try , a noble fweep of inclofures of a
charming verdure, to a bench, from which
you look into the vale on the houfe at your
feet, with a fweet little flream ferpen-
tining by it. Next you come to another
bench infcribed from Milton :

" Thefe are thy glorious works, Parent of
Good !

" Almighty ! thine this everlafting frame,

" Thus wondrous fair ! Thyfelf how won-
drous then,

*' Unfpeakable ! who fits above thefe hea-
vens

" To us invlfible, or dimly feen

" In thefe thy lowcft works ; yet thefe de-
clare

*' Thy goodnefs beyond thought, and power

divine.'*

You

[ 355 ]

You look down on an exquifite lawn
thinly fcattered with trees, on one fide of
which is the houfe ; around the whole a
vafl range of inclofures : to the right you
catch a moft beautiful fmall green hill*
with a clump of trees upon it. This view
is noble indeed !

From hence you turn to the right into
a grove, and prefently come to a view
moll delicious ! At your feet is fpread
forth a lawn of the fineft verdure ; a cool
fequeftred hollow, furrounded with thick
wood ; above which, in front, you catch
nomfo?i\ Seat, in the very fpot of ele-
gance itfelf J on a fweet little green hill,
the top of which juft fhews itfelf above
the trees, and half difclofes the temple al-
moft embofom'd in v/ood. A little to the
left of it, and higher, is the Grecian portico*
finely back'd with a fpreading grove. Over
that, on a noble fweep of irregular hill,
rifes the obcliflc, back'd with a vaft range
of wood, in the nobleft ftile : Tlie variety
of ground fine, and the whole of it orna-
mented with furprizing tafte as well as
magnificence. A better afil^mbiage of un-
conneded objeds managed moft fliillfully
A a 2 to

[ 356 ]

tx) form one whole, can fcarcely be ima-
gined : Yet have I read a defcription of
Hagley, in which it is thus mentioned : —
** Tou turn into a thicket, and have A
" LOOK at the Doric Pavilion, Thomfon'j
** Seat, and the Obelijk"

Leaving this noble fcene, the path
brings you to a bench under a very fine
oak, which looks down, as before, on the
hollow lawn j in front you view the green
hill, with the clump of trees on it, which
here appears mod exquifitely beautiful :
on one fide of it diftant water peeps mofl:
pidurefquely among the trees, and over
all the Wrekin rears his venerable head.

Perfuing the walk through the grove,
you come to the feat infcribed
^lieti & Miifu,
which commands moll: elegant fcenes :
You look down on a green hollow, fur-
rounded by fine oaks ; to the right you
fee fome water through the trees : rifing
above this lower fcene, you look to the
left upon Thomfons Seat, thickly backed
and furrounded with wood ; above it the
obeliik appears nobly. To the right a
gothic houfe (the parfonage") feen obfcure-

[ 357 ]
ly among the trees; likewlfe inclofures
broke by wood rifing moft elegantly one
above the other.

Next you come to a bench under a late-
ly oak commanding a lawn ; to the right
Popes urn, and a rifing hill crowned with
a clump of trees 5 and following the path,
it brings you to a very fine dell arched with
wood, and a great variety of water in a
hollow at your feet. To the right, clofc
to you, a fpring guflies out of the ground
on rock work, and falls into a fi:rcam in the
hollow. Further on another rill murmurs
over broken rocks, and uniting with the
fame ftream, it falls again, and winds away
moft beautifully among the wood. Upon
the feat is this infcription ;•

" Hie gelidi fontes, hie mollla prata^ Ly-

cori J
*' Hie nemus : hie ipfo tecum confumere

asvo."

Crofilng the dell, you rife to another
feat, the ftream windir>g in the hollow
beneath ; and the whole under the fliade
of large oaks : To the right you catch an
urn, and look back upon the ionic rotunda,

A a 3 which

[ 3S8 ]

which is feen very beautifully. Turning
to the left, and coming to the urn, you
find it infcribed as follows :

To the Memory of

William Sh ens tone, Efq;

In whofe Verfes

Were all the natural Graces,

And in whofe Manners

Was all the amiable Simplicity

Of paftoral Poetry,

With the fweet tendernefs

Of the Elegiac.

Palling on you come to a bench by the
fide of the winding flream, thickly covers
ed with w^ood ; and entering a grove al-
moft impervious to the fun, meet with a
bench around a vaft oak, that commands
a fine variety of fcenery. To the right
you look upon the river, and rifing among
the wood the rotunda ftrikes your eye -,
the fituation admirable; to the left you
•command the Pailadian bridge, having a
frefh view of the water, in a hollow all
overhung with wood : Behind you, on a
fine hill, is the feat ^deti & Muf.s.

Returning

r 359 ]
Returning through the grove, you pals
feverai :snches, and arrive at one iiir-
rounded by the mod: bewitching Icjiies :
It is a mois feat, with this infL-ripiion :

" Ego lauda ruris amccni
" Rivos & nuifco circumlita fiixa nemufque."

The fpot is totally lequeflered, and might
almoft be called the paradife for contem-
plation to indulge in: the whole is over
arched with the Ihade of tall fpreading
trees ; it is furroundcd with banks of Hirub-
by wood, of mofs, and ivyj the eye cannot
wander from the beautiful, in feaich of the
fublime; nor will one figh ever be heard
on this bench, for diftant profped. In
front you look upon a cafcade, breaking
from out a perpendicular bank of ivy; and
prefenting to the eye a beautiful fill of
tranfparent water, that glitters in this dark
grove; the efleft amazingly fine. It takes
a natural courfe, and breaking over a
ground of rock mofs and ivy, lofes itfclf
among the fhrubs at your feet. To the
right is a fweet little watery cave of rock
mofs, ^c. in which is a fmall ftatue of
Venus y the rcH: of the ktwQ is a fine dark

ihadc: of wood.

A a A Winding

[360]

Winding up the fide of the hill, you look
down on a romantic irriguous woody val-
ley; hearing the noife of falUng water, but
feeing none. Coming to a bench, you juft
look down to the right on a gufhing ftrcam
half covered with trees ; in front, Ve7ius
emboibm'd in a fweet hollow of wood.

Windin2: round the fides of the river,
you come to the Palladian bridge ; a por-
tico'd temple of the ionic order ; the view
admirably fine. You look full upon a
beautiful cafcade, broke into two fheets by
a rock, which falls into the water over
which the bridge is thrown. A little above
this a piece of wild ground is half feen,
and further on a beautiful lawn, at the
end of which a fine green fwelling hill,
upon which ftands the rotunda : the line
of view to thefe objedis is through a thick
tall wood, which gives a folemn brown-
nefs to the whole fcene, very noble. The
infcription :

" Viridantia Tempe,
" Tempe quas fylv^E cingunt fuper impen-
dentes/'

Leaving this exqulfite fpot, you turn
through a grove by feveral flight water-
falls, and come out not far from the houfe.

Thefe

t 361 ]

Thefe grounds, upon the whole, cannot
be fufficiently praifed : the natural variety
is great, and the advantage of being fo no-
bly cloathed with venerable oaks, peculi-
arly fortunate j but art has added frefli
luftre to every feature of nature, and cre-
ated others which difplay a pregnant in-
vention , and a pure and corre(ft tafte.
Waters that are trifling in themfelves, arc
thrown into appearances that flrike and
delight the mind, and exhibited in fuch an
amazing variety, that one would be temp-
ted at firft to think the fource vaftly
more confiderable than it in reality is. Let
me further add, that the buildings have an
equal variety, are all in a moft juft tafte,
and placed with the utmoft judgment,
both for commanding the moft beautiful
fcenes, and alfo for aflifting in forming
them, themfelves.

To-morrow I return to Hufbandry ; al-
low me therefore here to conclude myfelf.

LET-

[ 362 ]

LETTER XXII.

^TpHE foil about Hagley is various;
light loams, fand, and cold fliiFfpun-
gy clays. The average rent is about 10 s.
an acre : There is fome arable that letts
at 30 J. and fome meadows fo high as 3/.
Farms from 50/. to 200/. a year.
The courfes,

1. Turneps

2. Barley

3. Peafe

4. Wheat

5. Barley

6. Clover two or three years, and

then fome add

7. Wheat on one earth.
Aifo,

1. Fallow

2. Wheat

3. Oats

4. Clover and ray grafs.

They plough four times for wheat, fow
two budiels on cold lands before MichaeU
tiias ; and gain, upon an average, twenty-
eight

[ 363 ]

eight bufliels. For barley they fllr three
times, fow three buPnels and a half in
March or Aprils and gain upon an ave-
rage thirty-five , fixty have been gotten.
They ftir but once for oats, fow four
bufhels before barley feed time; the
mean crop thirty-fix. They like wife give
but one ploughing for peafe, fow three
bulliels and a half, or four ; never hoe
them; and get thirty in return. For rye
they plough twice, fow two bufhels and
a half; the crop twenty.

For turneps they give three ploughings ;
do not hoe them : The average value 301.
per acre ; \\{q, them chiefly for flieep.
Clover they fow with barley or oats ; mow
the firft crop, of which they get three
ton of hay per acre, and graze it after-
wards. Many farmers mix trefoile with

it.

Some few tares fown, for feeding horfes
with, green. Very few potatoes.

Lime is the principal manure ; they lay
one waggon load per acre ; formerly they
had as much as they could carry for 9 j. or
10 s, but now only fixty bufhcls for 13 j. or
J 4 J. they ufe it for turnep?, and find it

aniwcrs

[ 364 ]

anfwers beft on light land : Some few far-
mers mix earth with it.

Draining is pretty well imderftood here,
and that chiefly owing to the excellent
example of Lord Littleto?!, who ordered
many drains to be dug of various depths*
and three or four inches wide at bottom ;
the method ufed in filling them on grafs
land (where they were chiefly made) was
to take the firft fpit of turfs, and wedge
them into the drains, and then throw in
the moulds, without flione, wood, or any
thing; and the drains thus made have
flood exceedingly well, and never yet
failed. It is an excellent contrivance, and
highly worthy of imitation, and efpecially
in countries where ftones and wood are
fcarce.

The common farmers alfo drain their
morafly lands in a very eifedtual manner,
by cuts a yard wide at top, fixteen inches
at bottom, and four feet deep ; they fill up
eighteen inches deep, with logs of wood
and faggots, and then the moulds. The
cod of thefe drains is i s, the perch of
eight yards. The improvement is ex-
tremely great ; they make land of 5 s, an
acre worth 30 i-. at once.

They

i 3«5 ]

They ftack their hay at home; and
fome few have got into the way oi' chop-
ping their ftubblesi convinced not only of
the importance of Uttering cattle well, but
alfo of raifing large quantities of manure.

Good grafs land letts in general from 2 /,
to 3/. an acre, and is ufed moftly for dai-
rying; but the country, however, is chiefly
in tillage. An acre will fummcr feed a
COW; or keep feven rtieep. They univtr-
fally water their grafs fields whenever it
can be done, which they find the greateft
improvement of all. Their breed of cattle
is the long horns. The produd: of a cow
they reckon 6/. or 6 /. lO-r. They ufed to
be lett at 3/. rent; but now it is much
higher. The average quantity of milk,
four or five gallons. To three cows they
generally keep two pigs: And feven they
reckon the proper number for a dairy
maid. Barley ftrawis the winter food till
Ccmdlemasy then fome hay, of the latter
about a ton to a cow. They are kept all
winter in the farm yard, the fumm.cf
joill: is 2 J. a week. The calves fuck in ge-
neral four or five weeks.

The

[ 366 ]

The flocks of fheep rife from forty to fonvi
five hundred, and a thoufand, on com-
mons. The profit in inclofures, they reckon
doubling their money, or about los. or
I2S. 2L head, and on the commons about
2s. or 2 J. 6d. There is no folding. The
average fleece about \ lb,\y or 2 lb. fells at
1 J-. a pound.

In their tillage they reckon feven horfes
necelfary for a hundred acres of arable land.
They ufe three at length in a plough with
a driver, and do an acre a day.

But a new invention is coming in very
fail, which is the ufe of double ploughs j
which with only the addition of one horfe*
does double the work, by turning two fur-
rows at once : It is no gimcrackery bufi-
nefs, but fo folid and firong a machine that
the co7nmo7i farmers approve it, and accor-
dingly fome hundreds of them are made*
In Plate X. fig. i. is a fketch I took of
one of them.

The annual expence of a horfe, they
reckon at 6/. or 6/. loj. The fummer
joift is 2s.(>d. and 3^. a week. The time
of breaking up the ftubbles for a fallow is
about May-day, The price of ploughing,
per acre 6j-. the depth three to five inches.

The

[ 367 ]

The hire per day of a cart, three horfcs,
and driver, 5 s. of four horfes and two
carts, 7 J.

Great quantities of ftraw cut into chaff.
In the hiring of farms they reckon 550 /.
necelTary for one of 100 /. a year ; but many
are taken for a lefs fum.

Land fells at thirty and thirty-three
years purchafe.

Tythes are generally taken in kind.
Poor rates 3 j-. to 4 j-. in the pound ; the
employment of the women and children
fpinning ; all drink tea.

The farmers carry their corn three or
four miles.

Leafes are in general upon terms, from
feven to twenty-one years.

Th't following are particulars of feveral
farms in this neighbourhood,
100 acres in all
10 grafs
90 arable
£. 1 20 rent
7 horfes
6 cows

5 young cattle
ij;o flieep
I man

2 maids

[ 368 3

2 maids
I boy

1 labourer

3 waggons

2 carts

3 ploughs.
Another,

150 acres in all
30 grafs
120 arable
jT. no rent
8 horfes
12 cows
2 fatting beafts

4 young cattle
200 fheep

2 men

1 boy

2 maids

3 labourers
3 waggons

2 carts

3 ploughs.
Another,

135 acres in all
100 arable

35 gi'^rs

X.90 rent

6 horfes

t 369 ]

6 horfes

7 cows

I fatting bead
5 young cattle
130 fheep

1 man

2 boys

4 labourers

3 waggons

3 carts

2 ploughs.
Another,

80 acres in all
1 2 grafs
68 arable
£.50 rent

4 horfes
6 cows

4 young cattle
10 fheep
I man
i boy
I maid
I labourer

1 waggon

2 carts

2 ploughs.
Vol. ir. B b Anorhcr,

[ 370 ]
Another,

45 acres in all
10 grafs
35 arable
£.25 rent
3 horfes
6 cows

5 young cattle
I boy
I maid

1 labourer

2 carts

I plough-

LABOUR.

In harveft, is. and board.
In hay-time, ditto.
In winter, is. and beer.
Reaping, ^ s. 6 d, to 6 s.
Mowing corn, i s. 6 d.

— grafs, 2 s. to 2 s. 6d.

Ditching, ^\d. to 6d. eight yards.
Threfliing wheat, 3 1 <^. per bufhel.

barley, 2 d.

oats, i\ d.

peafe, 2 d.

Amount of a year's earnings, 15/. to 16 L
Head man's wages, 10/.

Next

[ ?>y' ]

Next ditto, 6 /. i o j-. to 7 /.

Boy of ten or twelve, 2 /. 1 5 j-.

Dairy maids, 3 /. i o j-.

Other ditto, 2 /. i 5 j.

Women per d^y in harvefl:, 6 ^/. and board.

ill hay time, bd. and beer.

in winter, 5 d.

Value of a man's board, wad^iinn^, and
lodging, 10/.

IMPLEMENTS, &c.

A \va?2;on, 18 /.

A cart, 8 /. to 9 /.

A plough, 1/. IS.

A double ditto, 2 1. 10 s.

A harrow, i/. to i/. 51.

A fey the, 3^". 6 d. to ^s.

A fpade, 41.

Pointing a coulter and lliare, 4^/.

Shoeing, is. ^d.

Cart harnefs, 1/. cs. per h.ov(Q.

PROVISIONS, ^c.

Bread — Wheat, 3 ^ Z^. for 6 :/.
Cheefe, 4 c'/.
Butter, 7 d. I 8 oz.
Beef, 3 c/.

B b 2 Mutton,

[ 372 ]

Mutton, 3 I ^/.

Veal, 3 d.

Pork, i\d.

Milk, \ d. per pint.

Potatoes, 4^. to td. per peck.

Candles, ^\ d, per lb.

Soap, 7 d.

Labourer's houfe-rent, 2/. 10/. to 3 /.

firing, 30/.

tools, 5 J.

BUILDING.

Bricks, 1 2 J. /»^r thoufand.
Tiles, 1 4 X.

Mafon per day, i s, \d.
Carpenter, i s, 4 d,
Thatcher, i /. and board.

In the pari(h of Hagley are the follow-
ing farms, befides fmall fpots, and Lord
Lit t let on ^ park.

No. I 200 acres X-HO 1"^^^

2 80 5^

3 68 40

4 45 25

5 70 30

6 150 85

" 7 80 80

N^ 8

[ 373 1

. B

200

130

9

i6o

120

lO

^35

90

1 1

3^

15

12

140

70

^3

25

48

13S3 ^-9^3

In the whole about 2000 acres.
The cattle upon thefe farms are as
follow :

. I

7 he

)ries 10 co^

A'S 30

2

4

6

10

3

5

4

10

4

3

6

0

5

8

10

3<>

6

7

4

150

7

6

H

200

8

7

7

200

9

7

8

150

10

5

5

120

1 1

3

I

40

12

7

8

160

13

5

0

0

—

—

— —

74

83

1 1 00

"

Bb3

My

[ 374 ]

My next flage was to Eroomfgrove,
where the hufbandry is as follows :

The foil is of two forts, fand and clay ;
rents high, from 20 j-. to 40 j-. an acre.
Fa'rms from 40 /. to 200 /. a year.

The courfe,

1 . Fallow

2. Wheat
" -^r Barley

4. Clover, two or three years

5. \Vheat

6. Turneps

7. Barley

8. Peafe

9. Oats
10. Clover.

Which would be, upon the whole, ex-
cellent, did not the barley and wheat come
together at firft.

The average crops are.

Of Wheat 35 to 40 bufhels.
Of Barley 40 to 45.
Of Oats 50.

Of Beans 40, fet and hoed.
Of Peafe 30.
For turneps they plough three or four
times; no hoeinfy, which is very extraordi-
nary among farmers that hoe their beans.

The

[ 375 ]
The average value is 30 j-. per acre; they
ule them for flieep and bealh.

For potatoes they generally plough up
the turf, and dibble the ilices in one foot
from each other. While growing, they
hand hoe and hand weed well. They get
large crops in this manner, and very fine
wheat or barley after them.

They have plenty of marie in this coun-
try, chiefly red and blue ; they lay thirty
three-horfe cart loads on an acre ; and
reckon that it lafts very good five or fix
years ; cofts 3 /. an acre ; it is reckoned a
vafl improvement. Of lime they lay a
waggon-load per acre of fixty bufhels ; it
cofts i/. carriage included.

The product of a cow they reckon at
3 /. to 4 /. the quantity of milk from two
to fix gallons a day.

Very few flieep kept.

In their tillage they reckon eight horfes
necefTary for the management of one hun-
dred acres of arable land; ufe four in a
plough, and do an acre a day. Some farn.-
ers have the double ploughs, which they
work alfo with four horfes. They calcu-
late the annual expence of a horfe at 8/.
May is the time of breaking up the ftub-

B b 4 bles

[ 376 ]

bics for a fallow; and the price of plough"
ing 4 /. to 5 s. per acre ; the depth four
to fix inches.

The hire of a cart, three horfes, and a
driver, 8j. a day.

They pradlice the cutting of ftraw into
chaff in common.

Four hundred pounds they reckon necef-
fary for a man who hires a farm of i oo /.
a year.

Tythes both gathered and compounded \
if the latter.

Wheat pays ^j.
Barley 4^.
Oats 2s. 6d.
Peafe 4J.

Poor rates, is. to 2j.
The following particulars of farms
will fhew the general ceconomy.
60 acres in all
40 arable
20 grafs
^. 100 rent
6 horfes
15 cows
5 young cattle
2 men
I boy

I maid

[ 377 1

I maid

1 labourer

2 waggons
2 carts

2 ploughs.
Another,

2 GO acres In all
40 grafs
160 arable
j^. 180 rent
10 horfes
20 cows
6 fatting beafts
20 young cattle
20 fheep

3 men

2 boys

3 maids

4 labourers.
Another,

40 acres in all
10 grafs
30 arable

£-53 rent

4 horfes

5 cows

8 young cattle
J boy

I maid.

[ 373 :

I maid.
Another,

^^ acres In all
15 grafs
40 arable
£.6g rent

5 horfes

8 cows
3 o young cattle

I man

I bov

I maid.

LABOUR.

In harveft, i j-. and board.

In hay time, ditto.

In winter, g d. 10 d. and beer, and a dinner

now and then.
Reaping 4 /. 6 ^. to 5 j. per acre.
Mowing corn, i s.

grafs, 2 s.

Threiliing wheat, 3^. a bufhel.

barlev, i\ d.

oats, \d,

peafe, \d.

Amount of a labourer's year's earnings, 20/,

Firft man's wages, 8 /.

Next ditto, 6 /.

Boy often or twelve years, 50/,

Dairy maids, 3 /. Other

i 379 ]

Other ditto, 50/.

Women per day in harveil:, 6 ii. and board.
In hay time, ditto.
In winter, 6d. and beer.
Value of a man's board, walhing, and
lodging, 6 /.

IMPLEMENTS, ^c,

A waggon, 20/.

A cart, S/.

A plough, 1/. IJ-.

A harrow, i 5 s.

A roller, ioj. 6 J,

A icythe, 3 j-.

A Ipade, 4 s.

Laying a fhare and coulter, is.

Shoeing, 2 s.

Cart-harnels, 30/. perhoric.

PROVISIONS, &c.

Bread — wheaten, i[c/,
Cheele, 3 - d.
Butter, ■/ J. 17 oz.
Beef, 3./.
Mutton, 7, \ d.
Veal, 2\1
Pork, 4^/.

Milk, i d. per pint.

Potatoes

[ 38o ]

Potatoes, 4/

Candles, 7 d.

Soap, 7 d.

Labourer's houfe rent, 30/. to 50/.

#— ■— firing, 30^.

At Broom/grove I firil: remarked the
abominable cuftom of dripping up the tim-
ber trees, to make them look like May-
poles, to the utter deftru6lion of the tim-
ber, and diftorting the face of the whole
country.

Four miles on this fide of Worcejier land
letts from 1 5 s. to 40 s. an acre ; farms
from 20/. to 200/. a year.

Worcejier is a very well built, and hand-
fbme city : the great ftreet is remarkably
fine. It is fuppofed to contain about twen-
ty-five thoufand fouls ; but this I take to
be an exaggeration. There are feveral
manufacflures carried on here, of which
the Glovers is the mofl confiderable* em-
ploying feveral thoufands of hands.

Men earn from 7^. to (^s. per week.

Women \s. to ^s.

Children \.s.6d. to 3/. 6d.

Burying crapes are alfo made here ; the
men in which branch earn from ^s. to qs,
a week.

The

[ 38' ]

The Porcelane works are very famous ;
but not carried to that degree of perR- Hon
which fome have alTerted : the clearnefs
of the ground, and the beauty of the
paintings, are neither of them equal to the
Drefden, which it is pity they do not aim,
with more fpirit, to equal, and then ex-
cel. It is well known that all the por-
celane in Europe may be melted in a Dref-
Aen cup, unhurt j and that the Drcfdm
cup will itfelf melt in an old China one,
unhurt ; which (hews the amazing perfec-
tion that empire had long ago attained in.
every part of the curious arts that do not
depend on defign. The earnings of th«
people employed at Worcejicr are various.

Men from I2x. to 3 /. i 5 x. a week

The Labourers 6 s. and js.

Children i j. to 3 s.

From Worcejler I took the road to O.v-
ford, through a country whofe agriculture
is extremely various. At Perjhore I made
enquiries, and found that the foil is all of
the heavy kind, either clay or loam : lu-
clofed lands lett from 15/. to 20s. p^'r
acre. The open at i o .r. Farms from 60 /.

to 150/.

Their

[ 382 ]
Their courfes,

1. Fallow

2. Barley

3. Beans

4. Wheat.

A moil: excellent courfe for heavy land.

1. Fallow

2. Barley

3. Peafe

4. Wheat.
' Alfo,

1. Turneps

2. Barley

3. Clover, one year

4. Wheat.

■ This likewife excellent. The average
crops as follow :

Of wheat twenty-five bufhels.
Of barley twenty-four.
Of beans twenty-five.
Of peafe twenty-five.
They plough three times for turneps ',
never hoe, i/. loj-. the average value.

They ufe a little Hme, twenty budaels
per acre t 3!^. each, they reckon it good
only for light land.

The prcdu(ft of a cow they value at 3 /.
The flocks of fheep eighty to tv.'o hundred ;

the

[ 383 ]

the profit 10 J. ahead. To one hundred
acres of arable they allot lix horfes, iifc
them five at length, do an acre a day ;
the depth they ftir four or five inches -, four
Shillings an acre the price of ploughing.

The following are the particulars of
fome farms in this neighbourhood :
260 acres in all .
100 grafs
160 arable
£' 300 rent
15 horfes
24 cows
14 young cattle
100 flieep
4 men
3 boys

2 maids

3 labourers

4 waggons
4 carts

6 ploughs.
Another,

100 acres in all
60 grafs
90 arable
/. 100 rent
9 horfes

14 cows

[ 384 )

14 COWS

lo young cattle

50 fheep

1 man

2 boys
2 maids

2 labourers

2 waggons

3 carts

2 ploughs.
Another,

90 acres in all ,
10 grafs
80 arable
/;.7orent

5 horfes

5 cows
10 young cattle

I man

I boy

I labourer.

LABOUR.

In harveft, 30 j. and board for the harveft.

In hay time, is. and board.

In winter, 10 d, and beer.

Reaping, 2x. 6^. and board.

Mowing

t 35s J
Mowing corn, 8^. and board.

i grafs, IJ-.

Ditching, 6 ^. to 8 d. eight yards.
Threfhing wheat, 3 ^. to 4 d.
■ ' ■ barley, 2d.
oats, iid.
• — peafe, 2d.

• beans, 1 1^0

Firfl man's wages, 9 /. to 10 /.

Next ditto, 8 /.

Boy of ten or twelve years, 3 A

Maids, 3 /.

Women per day in harveft, 6 d. and board.

In hay time, 6 d. and beer.

In winter, 5 d.

PROVISIONS, ^c.

Wheaten bread, ild,

Cheefe, 3 d.

Butter, 7 d.

Beef, 3 d.

Mutton, 3 d.

Veal, 2 d.

Pork, 4^.

Candles, yd. '

Soap, 7 d.

Labourer's houferent, 20 s. to 30J.

Vol. Ill, Cc Labourer's

[ 386 ]

Labourer's firing, 30 /.

tools, lOi.

Amount of a year's earnings, 1 5 /.

IMPLEMENTS, ^c.

A waggon, 15/. to 20 /.

A cart, 5/. to 7/.

A plough, I o J.

A harrow, 20 s.

A fcythe, 3 j. 6 </.

A fpade, 3 j. 6 ^. to 4 /.

Shoeing, \s. 4^.

In the neighbourhood of Bend/worth
the hulbandry improves greatly, being car-
ried on with more fpirit than common.
This is the agriculture of tlie Fale of Eve^
Jham,

The foil is chiefly clay, but much loam,
and fome that is light. Rents from 15/.
to 30 J-. average 21s. Farms rife from
40/. to 1000/. a year; but are in general
large.

The principal courfes are,

1. Fallow

2. Barley

3. Beans

4. Wheat.

And,

[ 3^7 ]
And,

1. Turneps

2. Barley

3. Wheat

4. Oats ; very bad.

And,

1. Turnep'^.

2. Barley

3. Peafe

4. Wheat.
Alfo,

1. Fallow

2. Barley

3. Clover, two years

4. Wheat

5. Oats.

The average crops are very great.
Of wheat four quarters.
Of rye four, but little fown.
Of barley fix.
Of oats eight.
Of peafe twenty-five bufliels.

For beans they plough once, and dung
well, and fet them in rows from fifteen to
eighteen inches afunder, hand-hoe thcni
twice, which cofts 4/. an acre each time;
the average crop five quarters : The wheat
C c 2 after

_ [ 388 ]
after them Is generally fuperlor to that
after a fallow.

For turneps they fllr but twice, hoe
them once J the value ^^r acre from 30J".
to 3 /. Ufe them for fheep. Clover they
ufe for feeding their horfes in the inclo-
fures ; and alfo for the fpring feed of lambs.

For potatoes they manure well with long
dung, plough but once, dibble them in, in
rows, one foot afunder; get three or four
hundred bufhels /(^r acre j fow wheat after
them.

They have neither marie or lime, nor
do they want them, for the natural rich-
nefs of their clays is very great, being of
that fort that falls like lime with the win-
ter's frofts. They conftantly fold their
(heep ; Hack their hay at home; and many
of them chop their ftubbles.

Good grafs lets from 30 j. to 40 j.
it is ufed both for fatting and dairying :
One acre will carry a cow through the
fummer, or eight fheep. The breed of
cattle is between the long and fhort horns ;
their oxen fat to about lixty fcore. The
produ<fl of a cow they calculate at 5/. five
gallons of milk about the average quantity
per cow. To ten cows they keep about

two

[ 389 ]

two fows ; and eight the proper number
for a dairy maid. The winter food is ftraw
and hay, of the latter from fifteen hundred
weight to a ton each. The calves fuck
fix weeks. The fummer joift i j-. 6 t/. a
week. In winter they are kept in open
farms in the farm yard, but in inclofed ones,
in the fields.

Their hogs they fat fo very high as to
forty fcore, but twenty common.

The flocks of iheep rife from fixty to
twelve hundred, the profit they reckon at
8/. or 9 i. a head. The average fleece, in
the inclofures 9 lb, in the open fields 3 or

In their tillage they reckon twelve
horfes neceflTary for 100 acres of arable
land j ufe five or fix at length, and do an
acre a day. The annual expence of a horfe
they calculate at 7/. The fummer joift
\s. ()d, a week. They break up their
ftubbles for a fallow in March, The price
of ploughing per acre is 6 s. and the depth
two and a half or three inches i it is afto-
niiiiing they can get fuch noble crops with
fiich ploughing ; but this feems to prove, that
fertility of foil is the grand point, and that
the authors, who have fo generally pre-
C c -i fcnbcd

[ 39^ ]

icribed very deep ploughing as abfolutely
necefTary in all foils, are ftrangely mistaken.
It is much to be queftioned whether one
acre of wheat with two inches of plough-
ing in this country, docs not yield four
times as much as fuch writers have gained
with their inort philofophlcal condiwdi : — not,
however, that I plead for fliallow plough-
ing.

The hire of a cart, three horfes, and a
driver, 5 J. a day.

In the hiring and flocking of farms, their
ideas (peak a much more fpirited hulban-
dry than I have commonly met with. For
the flocking a farm of 500/. a year, con-
fiding of 500 acres, half grafs and half
arable, they calculate the following articles
necelTary.

Twenty-fix horfes, at 15 /. jC 39^
Twelve hundred fiieep, - 1200
Thirty cows, - - - - 240
Swine, - - , - - 10
Harnefs - - --_- ^5
Four waggons, one a broad

\^ieel one, - - - - 100
Two broad wheel carts, - - 24

1999
Two

[ 39^ ]

iCi999
Two narrow ditto, - - - 12

All other implements, - - 80

Rent, - ----- - ^00

Town charges, - - - - ^o

Houfe - keeping, befides what

comes from the farm, - - 100

Furniture, --- -- - 200

Five men, ------ 40

Four boys, ------ 12

Four labourers, - - - - 80

Three maids, - - - - 10

Seed,

Seventy acres of wheat, - - 100

Seventy barley, - - 45

Thirty-five — beans, - 28
Thirty-five — oats, - -17

Twenty clover, - - 8

Land fells at twenty-eight and thirty
years purchafe.

Poor rates very high, higher than the
land tax, to 41. in the pound; in the vil-
lages no where lower than 2 s.

The employment of the poor women

and children is chiefly with the gar-

C c 4 dencrs.

[392 ]

dencrs, of whom (as at Sandy, in Bed-
fordjhire,) there are great numbers : be-
tween three and four hundred acres of
land in this neighbourhood are fo employed>
that let for 50 s. and 3 /. an acre : They
carry their products around the country,
to Birmingham, Worcejler, Tewkjbury^
Gloticejier, Warwick, Coventry, Staw, &c.
and feeds to Stafford, Litchfield, Leicefier,
Nottingham, &c. afparagus to Bath and
Brifiol. Befides this employ, the poor knit
caps and ftockings, 2d, to 6 d. 2. day. All
drink tea.

Farmers have no diftance to carry their
corn ; all is ufed at home.

Leafes from fourteen to twenty-one
years.

The following are particulars of farms
in this neighbourhood :

200 acres all arable
X. 170 rent
12 horfes
16 cows
5 young cattle
1 70 fheep

1 man

2 boys

2 maids

8 labourers

[ 393 1

8 labourers
4 waggons

3 carts

4 ploughs.
Another,

850 acres in all
450 grafs
400 arable
^.800 rent
30 horfes
40 cows
40 fatting beafls
20 young cattle
1000 flieep
8 men
4 boys
^ maids
I o labourers

6 waggons
8 carts

10 ploughs.
Another,

70 acres in all
50 arable
20 grafs
^.70 rent

7 horfes
i8o fheep

I maid

[ 394 ]

1 maid

4 labourers
3 waggons

2 carts

2 ploughs.
Another,

90 acres all arable
jr.50 rent
8 horfes
10 cows
2 young cattle
100 fheep
I man
I maid

1 boy

2 labourers

3 waggons
2 carts

2 ploughs.

LABOUR.

Jn harveft, 30J. and board for the harveft.
In hay time, ij-. td. and beer.
In winter, is. and beer.
Reaping, ^s. to 6 s.
Mowing corn, is. 6d.

grafs, 2 s.

Hoeing turneps, 51. 6d, to js,

Hoeino'

[ 395 ]
Hoeing beans, 6 j. to 8 s.
Ditching, 6 ^. to 9 ^.
Threfhing wheat 4 </. per buflicl.

— barley, 2 J.

oats, il^.

— beans, ild.

Digging, 2 /. I o J-. or 3 /.
Amount of a year's earnings, 18/-
Firfl man's wages, 10/.
Next ditto, 7 /. to 9 /.
Boy of ten or twelve years, 2s. 6 J. a week.
Dairy maids, 4/.
Other ditto, 2/. los. to 3/.
Women in harveft, 14 s, and board.
In hay time, 7 ^.

Value of a man's board, wafliing, and lodg-
ing, 12/.

IMPLEMENTS, tfr.

A waggon, 18/,

A cart, 6 /.

A plough, 20 J".

A harrow, 20 s. to 4 /.

A roller, 20/. to 40 j-.

A fey the, /\.s, 6d,

A fpadc, 3 J. 6 rf'.

Shoeing, is, Sd.

Cart-harnefs, />d'r horfe, i/. 6s,

PRO-

[ 396 ]

PROVISIONS, &c.

Bread — wheaten, i{d,

Cheefe, 3?^.

Batter, 8 ^,

Beef, 2 1 J,

Mutton, 3 {i.

Veal, 3 J.

Pork, 3f^.

Milk, f </. j^^r pint.

Potatoes, 8 d.

Candles, 6 ^.

Soap, 6d,

Labourer's houfe rent, i os, to i p,

^ firing, 25 J-.

tools, 2s. 6 d.

Coals, T^s, a ton, laid in.

BUILDING.

Tiles, 18/. per thoufand.

Oak timber, is. 4^. to 2s.

Afli ditto, I J", to IJ-. 4^/.

Elm, IS.

Mafon per day, is. 6^ and beer.

Carpenter, is. bd. and ditto.

Thatcher, is. 4^. and beer.

Farm-houfes, plaifter and thatch ; a few

brick and tile.

In

[ 397 ]

In the parifh of Bend/worth are,
1 500 acres
1 4 farms
80 horfes
I 20 cows
1000 fheep
^. 1 000 rent, (befides that of houfes)
jf. 200 rates
600 labourers.

The following experiments and remarks
of Mr. William Pemiyy who keeps the Inn
at Bendfwo7-thy are much worthy of notice.
He is very fenfible and intelligent.

In the pla?iti??g of wheat he made this
trial : Upon a loamy foil, a mixture of clay
and fand, he fet a peck of wheat on the
third of an acre, in rows, nine inches aftin-
der, and fix inches from grain to grain :
The land had been well fallowed : The
crop was neither hand hoed nor hand
weeded : Produce thirty-four pecks ; but
there being a path acrofs the field, wafted
a fifth : Total, therefore forty pecks, or,
per acre, thirty bufhels. This is a very
great produce from fo fmall a quantity of
feed, and proves much in favour of the ad-
vocates for thinner feeding than common.

The

t 3^8 ] ■

The expencc of planting was 3/. or gsi,
per acre.

Mr. Penny makes it a rule in the feed-
ing his ground, always to change the foil,
but not the feed : That is, upon clay to
fow wheat that was raifed upon fand, gra-
vel, or light loam ; and the contrary. Dif-
tance he reckons nothing ; but his experi-
ments on this point are not decifive, as all
his own wheat feed comes from the Vale
of White Horfey Berkfiire.

His preparation of the feed is, to fteep it
in a brine firft made ftrong enough to bear
an Qggy and then with half as much more
fait added : In this he fteeps it two hours.
He finds it a remedy for the fmut; as the
flrength of the brine throws up the un-
found corn, fuch being always the lighteft.
He diftinguiflies the burnt grain and th$
fmutty by this ; the burnt is as long as the
common grain, and black; the fmut is
black alfo, but perfedly globular, and puffs
like a puff ball. After the fteeping he
dries it with lime.

He has more than once fown the Skim-
mings of the fteeping quite fmutty, and
had perfcdly found grain in return : This
ke attributes to the flrength of the brine.

His

[ 399 ]

His barley feed he fhifts from foil to foil,
in the fame manner as wheat.

The culture of barley here is excellent.
They plough the land in Marchy (but this
iliould be in Otlober,) in May dung it,
twenty load to an acre, twenty-eight bufli-
t\s per load. In June plough it in. The
land then lies till September, when it is
ploughed again, and arched up, and fo lays
for the winter. In March it is ploughed
down, one half, or two bufliels per acre of
feed being then turned in, and the other
half, or two budiels more, harrowed in at
top : This management yields fcven quar-
ters per acre on an average. It certainly
is mol]; excellent hufbandry ; and the cir-
cumftance of fpreading the dung on the
fallow, and mixing it well with the foil by
the fucceeding plough ings, preferable, I
apprehend, to laying it on in the winter
before fowing, which alfo depends on the
coming of fliarp frofts.

Lucerne, Mr. Pemiy has cultivated, and
with good fuccefs. He fowed two acres
in drills in 176 1, twelve inches afundcr;
the foil a fandy loam. It was hand hoed
well for three or four years, and afterwards
brcafl ploughed twice a year. The hand

hocinp"

[ 400 ]

hoeing cod 40 s, an acre ; but the plough-
ing only 5 J.

Thefe two acres have kept twelve horfcs
conftantly in the ftable from the beginning
of y^pn'/ to the end of September, with
only a fevcnth part of the hay they other-
wife would have had : The keeping in this
manner, Mr. Penny, (and his neighbours
alfo,) value at 2/. a week j or 24^. a week
for the two acres. /. s.

Twenty-fix weeks at 24 J. 3^4

Befides this, his ewes and lambs
have been kept on it a month
every fpring, twenty at t d, a
week. {N. B. It is worth more
than this at fo critical a feafon,
but our cultivator exaggerates
nothing.) ^ o

£• 33 4

Or, per acre, 16 /. izs.

It is now in very good heart, and having
anfwered fo greatly, Mr. Penny defigns
fowing a larger quantity. The profit is
very noble, and proves fufficientJy, that
J^ucerne is a moft capital article in Britijh
agriculture, and greatly deferves to be

brought

[ 401 ]
brought into univerfal ufe. Nor Is the
public under a flight obligation to this ufc-
ful hufbandman, for attending fo much to
this and other matters of the fame kind.

Perfuing the road to Oxford, I found, at
Moretoriy fomc variations that deferve mi-
nuting. The foil is chiefly a gravel ; lets
at an average at 20 j. an acre. Farms rife
from 50/. to 500/. a year, but in general
are 2 or 300/.

Their courfes in the common fields :

1. Fallow

2. Peafe

3. Wheat

4. Barley.
And>

1. Fallow

2. Beans

3. Wheat

4. Barley.
In the inclofures,

1 . Break up, Oats

2. Wheat

3. Peafe

4. Wheat

5. Oats

6. Turneps

7. Oats and GralTcs.

Vol. III. Dd The

[ 402 ]

Tlie average crops are.

Of wheat, three quarters and a half.
Of barley, five.
Of oats, five.
Of peafe, two and a half.
Of beans, three.
They plough three times for turneps,
hand hoe twice, and are worth, upon a
medium, 3 ox. an acre.

Their flocks of {heep rife from loo to
1400 ', the profit they reckon at 7 or 8i.

In their tillage they ufe four, horfes at
length, and do an acre a day; eight or nine
neceiTary for one hundred acres of arable
land. Some farmers break up their bub-
bles for a fallow before winter, but moflly
in fpring. The price of ploughing is ys. td.
an acre, and the- depth four or five inches.

The following particulars of farms will
fhew the general oeconomy of this country,
200 acres in all
140 arable
6 c grafs
/. 200 rent
1 2 horfes
16 cows
4c o flieep
20 young cattle

3 men

[ 403 ]
3 men
2 maids

2 boys

3 labourers.
Another,

570 acres in all
450 arable
I 20 grafs
£.530 rent

40 horfes

30 cows

I o fatting beafts
20 young cattle

1 1 00 Hieep
5 men

3 boys

4 maids

I I labourers.
Another,

460 acres in all
410 arable
50 grafs
^.400 rent
30 horfes,
10 cows
8 fatting hearts
900 flieep
3 men

P d 2 3 boys

[ 404 ]
3 ^s
3 maids
lo labourers.
Another,

310 acres in all
210 arable
100 grafs
^.320 rent
17 horfes
30 cows
I o fatting beads
800 fheep
3 men

2 boys

3 maids

5 labourers.

LABOUR,

In harveft, 8 s. and board.
In hay time, is, 6ci. and beer.
In winter, ix
Reaping, 5/. to 6 j.
Hoeing turneps, ^s.
Threfhing wheat, 4 d.

barley 2^.

oats, if^.

Firft man's wages, 7/. vqs.
Next ditto, 5 /.

Boy

[ 405 ]
Boy of ten or twelve years, 2 /. to 2 /. 10 s.
Dairy maids, 4/.
Other ditto, 3 /.
Women per day in harveft, i s.
In hay time 6 J,

PROVISIONS, <^^.

Bread, i{J.

Cheefe, ^{J,

Butter, y J.

Beef, 31^.

Mutton, 2^'

Veal, 2i^.

Pork, 4^.

Bacon, 8 J.

Milk, h per pint.

Potatoes, 3^^.

Candles, 0 J,

Soap, 6 J.

Labourer's houfe rent, 30 j-. to 40 s.

firing, turf, none bought.

To Chipping Norton and its neighbour-
hood the land declines much : It is chiefly
open fields, and does not lett more than from
5X. to 8 J-. an acre. Farms in general from
30/. to 100/. a year.

About Enftone land letts from js. to 1 5 x.
Farms chiefly from 50 /. to 200 /. a year.
D d 3 Ditchley,

[ 4o6 ]

Ditchleyt the feat of the Earl of Litch'
field, is about a mile and half out of the
road, and three miles from Blenheim ; it is
very well worth viewing. The front is
handfome, and the difpoiition of the apart-
ments renders them very convenient.

The hall is a handfome room, thirty-fix
feet fquare, the deling is painted by Kent,
inclofed in an oval of fret work ; the walls
cream coloured ftucco, with lead coloured
and gilt ornaments. The door cafes finely
carved. In the pannels are bufts of

Milton,

Socrates,

Livy, .

Homer,

Virgil,

Cicero,

Sappho,

Shake/pear, and

Dry den.
bafib relievos, fcrolls, feftoons, &c. far-
found them.

The Mufic-room is tv/enty-four by twen-
ty-two. Here are, among fome portal ts,
Venetian School. Two courtezans. Great fpi-

rit and expreflion. [N.B. The

fame as at Kiplin, Mr. Croive's.

Rubens.

[ 4^7 ]

Rubens. His family. Very fine. Tlie
colours and Ipirit of the horfe
are great ; but the exprcflion of
the wife and fon nothing.

IFotton. Landfcape. Not difagreeable, but
this is not \k\z green of nature.
The Dining-room, thirty-feven by twenty-
two. Here we find

Holbein, Henry VIII. Exceedingly fine
colouring and fpirit; an attitude
bluftering as the monarch.

Vandyke. Charles I. and family. Charles 11.
on his knee. Nobly free, ele-
gant, and fpirited.

Unknown. Duke of Monmouth and his mo-
ther. A fweet attitude.

yonfon. Philip the lid. The counte-
nance expreffive of a foul dark as
Philip's.

Ditto. Sir Henry Lee.

Corn. Ketel. Sir Chrijiopher Hat ton.

In this room is a black marble flab of one

piece, nine feet by four and a halt.

The Damaflv Bed-chamber twenty-two

by twenty-one.

Vandyke. Admiral Lee^

yonfon. The Queen of Bohemia.

Dd4 hi

[ 4o8 ]

In the Drawing-room, twenty-four by
twenty-one, the chimney-piece is of black
and white marble, handfome, the cornice
fupported by ionic pillars. Here are
Lely, The CountelTes of Rochejier and

Lindefay.
Ditto. Sir Francis Harry Lee.
'Jonfon. Sir Harry Lee.

The Saloon, thirty-three by twenty-four.
The moil flriking article in this room is an
antique ftatue of the Goddefs of Health,
about two feet and a half high ; nothing
can be more fweetly elegant than the dra-
pery, the attitude, and the purity of the
head. The whole fieure is in the chafteft
flile of the antique ; the body finely feen
through the drapery.

The Green Damafk Bed-chamber, twen-
ty-four by twenty-two. The chimney
piece of white marble, polifhed ; the frieze
cornucopias of fruit, ^c. The ornaments
above two corinthian pillars gilt, inclofing
a landfcape by Wotton, which is fomewhat
unnatural.

Unkjio'ivn. Two pieces of ruins and rocks.
Bri'^ht and glowing. The caf-
cade fine.

Th^

[ 409 ]

The White Dining-room, thirty-feveri
by twenty-tv/o, highly ornamented. The
cieHng is in compartments of white and
gold ; the cornice and frieze richly executed
in the fame ; the pannels, window frames,
and picture ones of the fame : The glafTes
very elegant, and fine flabs of Sie?ia marble.
Here are
Lely, Charles II. Dutchcfs of Clcvc^

land.
Kneller. The prefent Duke of Grafton %
great grand -father, and Lady
Charlotte Fitzroy.

From this room there is a palTagc to a
fmail neat Chapel, in which is an altar-
piece, a dead Chrijiy a copy from PouJ/in.

The Velvet Bed-chamber, twenty-four
by twenty-two. The bed and hangings of
figured Ge}2oa velvet. The chimney piece
of white marble highly poliflicd ; over it a
ruin, very plcafi ng, by Panini,

The Chmefe Dreflmg-room, twenty-
four -by twenty-two. It is completely
fitted up, and furnifhcd in the tafte of that
CQuntryj richly ornamented with carving
gilt ; Chincff figures ; picture and glafs
frames the fame. The chim:iey-piece o'^
white marble, polifhcd. A llib of .^gatc

maiblc.

[ 410 ]
marble. The tapeftry is fine. Two land-
fcapes, but rather brilliant than natural.

The gardens are difpofed with taile; the
iloping banks fcattered with wood, and
hanging to the Terpentine lake, with the
rotunda, finely placed on a riling ground
among the trees, is a very beautiful land-
fcape.

From hence to Oxford the country con-
tinues much the fame, chiefly open ; and
a quarry of flone near the furface of the
whole. As I fliall not fly through that
city quite fo quick as I did on another oc-
cafion,. but fl:op to view what is beil: worth
notice; I fhall here put a period to this
long letter.

I am, &c. ,

L E T-

[ 4M ]

LETTER XXm.

'T^HE fii-rt entertainment vvc reaped at
Oxford was the viewing the collec-
tion of pi'ilures left by the late Gene-
Guife to the Univerfity ; but as they are
not yet placed where they are to re-
main, I could not get a fight of all ; mod:
of them, however, I had the pleafure of
feeing. Here follows a catalogue.
Viviano and Ricc't. A piece of architecture
rather large, adorned with many
fmall figures. By no means
pleafing.
Spag?ioktto. Two lieads (carricaturas) in
one piece, fmaller tlian iiie. Wcvy
ftriking and horrible.
Moriglio. A portrait of a Spjuijb noble^
man, half length, after the life.
Dark.
Lhiknoiun. Virgin and Child. Admirable
drawing. A fine group, and ex-
cellent attitude.
Ti:idii. Three ladies. Three antidotes to

t 4iO

Hdn, Carrache. A buffoon.
Unknown, St. Sebaftian,
Nicolo deir Abate, A pidlufe in light and
fhadow, reprefenting Diana and
nymphs in the bath, changing
Acleon into a flag. Very fine
and corredt drawing.
L. Carrache. The legs of a dead Chriji^
What a fubjed ! But admirably
forefliortened.
Guerchino, The prodigal fon. Something
in the ftile of Bajfan; but of
mod: unmeaning exprellion.
Gtiido, Holy love conquering prophane
love. An unmeaning fubjedt,
and an unplealing pidture.
Unknown, A woman turning her head and
pointing to an open book. Fine.
^Titian. A head with part of the flioulders.

Unplealing.
Pafqualini Romano. A pidlure with many
figures, two feet high, repre-
fenting Solo?no?is Judgment.
Andrea Mantegna. Our Saviour on his
way to Calvary. Ridiculous ex-
prefTion. The figure behind our
Saviour that of a grinning fool.

Unknown.

f 413 J

Unknown. The rape of the SahJncs, A
ftrange confufion of figures.

pominichino. St. Jerome praying. A fine
figure 3 colours llrong.

Va?idyke. A fmall fketch in Hght and lliadc,
with many figures, rcprcfcnting
a faint ready to fufrcr martyr-
dom. A nothing.

Ann'ib. Carrache, A fmall oftagonal pic-
ture on a black flone, reprefcnt-
ing our Saviour carried to the
fepulchre. A Arange group.
Nothing pleafing.

J'intoret, St. L^z/r^^-wr^'s martyrdom. Strong-
ly grouped, but in a dark ihle.

Ang. and Gobho Carrache. Martyrdom of
St. Peter. Very unpleafing.

Poujin. A large piece of architcdure, with
figures. Faded and unpleafing.

J^ourgognone. A battle. Dark and very
indifiind:, but fpirited.

Ricci. Apoilo and Marfyas. Very un-
pleafing : The colours dark, but
exprefiion ftrong.

L. Carrache. Our Saviour known by the
two difciples in breaking the
]3read. Mere poverty ol: cx-

prciTion^

[ 414 ]
preflion ; and a formal groups
but the colours ftrong.
Dominic hino. Sophonijha dying of grief.
No brilliancy, but the attitude
and expreffion good.
Guido. Flight into /Egypt. Very fine : The
attitudes and expreffion good ;
but no brilliancy.
Andrea Sacchi. The heads of St. Andrew
and St. Paul. Strong exprefiion.
Leonardo da Vinci. St. Elizabeth with St.
yobn when a babe, mufing on a
crofs made of reeds. Exceeding
natural and fine : The boy in-
comparable.
Sahiati. 'judith holding Holofer?ies' head.
Very fine : Strong colours and
expreffion.
Z). da Volterra. The defcent from the
crofs. Great variety and ftrength
of expreffion; but the colours
gone.
Riihens. Medufas head. Very fpirited and

flriking expreffion.
Ani. Carrache. A holy family; the figures
one foot high. Very fine; the
attitudes and colours fpirited.

Cor-

[ 415 ]

Correggio. Our Saviour crowned with
thorns. The figures a foot and
an half high. Very fine. Co-
lourjng of a hvely brilliancy :
The lights ftrong but unnatu-
rally diffufcd.

Imola. The laft fupper. Well grouped,
but nothing in it ftriking.

Aiiib. Carrache. A boy's head, as lar^^e as
hfe. Lively.

G. de Carrache. A landfcape ; a hare hunt-
ing. A nothing.

B. da Garofola. St. Cathari?ie, a foot and
a half high. A formal figure in
the flile of Albert Durer.

Gidjeppe d' Arpino. Adam and TLve driven
out ol Paradife. Prodigious fine
attitudes. E've^ naked body
very beautiful. The colouring

good.

TjConardo da Vinci. The head of a woman
fmiling. Lively.

Bartohmeo. A child's head, fmaller than
the life. Ditto.

Correggio. The pale of an altar, with fi-
gures larger than the life. Vail:
expreiiion in the old man ; the
plaits of the flefli fine, and the

colours

[ 4i6 ]
colours noble; but the general
brilliancy gone. The figure of
a woman to the right mod un-
meaning.
Ann. Carrache. The family of the Car-
rach\ reprefented in a butcher's
ihop, and thofe celebrated paint-
ers in butchers dreiTes. Anni'
bal is weighing fome meat to a
^ivifs of the Cardinal o{ Bolognas
guard. Augiifilne is fhaking a
nail, and trying if it holds faft,
that he may hang on it a leg of
mutton, which he holds in his
left hand. Gobbo is lifting up a
calf to hang it on a beam, and
Ludovico lloops down killing a
fheep. The mother of them is re-
preiented as a fervant maid that
comiCs to buy fome meat. The
likenelTes are traditionally faid
to be wonderful. — This, furely,
j& the mod: ftriking inllance of
an odd and grotefque tafte ; to
tranfmit ones felf to poilerity in
the mod odious of common cha-
radlers. Alexander was follici-
icus to have the beauty of his

perfoo

[ 417 ]

perfon tranfmitted to future
times, in the works of the bell
artifts ; what would he ha\c
thought of a painter that threw
him into the attitude of killing a
fheep ? Here is, however, great
ftrength and variety of exprellion
in this phantaftic pidlure.

Do?mnichino. A landfcape. Dark and un-
pleafmg, but the attitudes of
the figures are very fpirited.

Furino. A woman reprefenting Simpli-
city, with a dove in her hand*
Dark ; nothing pleafing.

Badalocchl. The Good Samaritan. Wry
ftrong and fpirited drawing, well
fore-fhortened; colours gone.

Rkcu Our Lady with her Babe ; the

figures about two feet high. A
very fine attitude; the child as
fpirited as the fubject will admit.
The colouring was good, but
almoft gone.

Raphael, A youth's head fmaller than the
life. Very formal.

Titian, The Nativity. The colouring of

this pidlure is exceedingly fine.

The pofture of the virgin incom-

VoL. III. E e parable^

[ 4>8 ]

parable, and the expreflion of
the other figures great. The
grouping excellent, and the light
ilrongly and fpiritedly diffufed
from the child.
Ditto* Another Nativity. Unpleafing

colours. Aflrangegroup; and the
expreffion of the old fellow over
the child quite vulgar.
Anni. Carrache. Our Lady with her Babe
in her arms, near as large as life,
ftanding on clouds. The atti^
tudc of the virgin very fine; and
the expreffion of her countenance
fweetly amiable; the child fine,
and the whole group piclurefque.
Aug, Carrache, Sufannah and the Elders.
Not pleafing ; |ier naked body is,
however, thrown into a flriking
light, and very well drawn.
The attitude of the old fellow
very fpirited, the drapery go(3d,
and the lights ftrong.
Cavedone. The Nativity. This pi(5lure is
alfo attributed to Zitccarelli. The
briHiancy is in his ftile, and
pleading. The attitude of the
fhepherd kneeling, with the flaff

in

[ 419 ]

in his hand, is good; alfo that of
the old man in the fofc-ground.
The little angels are executed in
a lively manner. But there is a
dimnefs of (liade over the whole
piece, as if unfiniHied or da-
maged.

Aug. Carrache. Head of our Saviour.
Strong expreflion.

Schidone. Our Lady and her Babe. A
fweet little group, in a good
tafte and fpirit.

Baffan. Chrijl laid in the Sepulchre.
Very capital expreffion of the
exa(^ kind; it is almod: as mi-
nute as Albert Durcr^ efpe-
cially that of the dead body.

Barocci. Chrijl flievvn to the people by
Pilate. Very fine. The group,
attitudes, and colours pleafing.

Perugino. Chriji appearing to Maiy Mag-
dalen. CbriJFs expreffion that
of a clown, and her's no better.
The drapery, landfcapc, and co-
lours, equally bad.

Raphael. The infant Jefus and St. John
embracing. Spirited. The coun-
tenance of him to the left good.
E e 2 Ditto,

[ 420 ]

Ditto. Three heads in water colours.

In a ftrong expreffive ftile of
drawing ; but unpleafing.

Car facto. St. Catharine. The attitude na-
tural ; but the drapery in a bad
tafle, and the colours faint.

Andrea del Sarto. Our Lady with her Babe,
and St. yohn: Her attitude fine,
and her countenance exquilite:
The boy fplrited.

Holbein. A father and his two children
praying. A nothing.

Raphael. The Nativity, containing eigh-
teen figures, two feet high. Her
pofture neither natural or grace-
ful ; and the colours are difa-
greeable : The group is pretty
good, and the figure of the old
man fitting a fine one. It is the
mere rubbifh of names to call
this an " aftonifhing perform-
ance."

Paul Feroneje, Our Lady with her Babe,
St. Catharine^ and St. Francis.
Very fine and fpirited attitudes;
a pleafing group, but the co-
lours nothing. The attention of
the old man good.

Andrea

[ 421 ]

Andrea del Sarto. Chriji coming out of
the Temple.

*' Group nods at group, each figure has its brother,
" And half the pidure jufl: reflcds the other.'*

T)07Jiinichino, A Mlftrefs and her Maid.
A nothing. But it is called one
of the beft works of this great
mafter.

Parmegiano. Our Lady with her Babe.
Exceedingly fine, graceful, and
pleafing -, the colours brilliant,
and the head of the old man in
a great ftile.

Dominichijio. Cupid drawn by two doves j
fpirited, and fomewhat pleafing.

Caj-lo Cignani. A copy oiCorreggids Night,
The lights flrong and fpirited.
The figure in obfcura, leaning
on a fpear, forms a fine attitude.
The group good.

'Tintoret. Diana in the bath, changing
ASteon into a ftag. Very fine
drawing: of the naked. Several

„ nf flip n:

of the fi^rares are beautiful, and

the attitudes fpirited.
Tintoret. The communion of the Apoftles.
Very dark, and the lights ftrong-
E e 3 ly

[ 422 ]

ly and partially thrown, but the
attitudes have fpirit.
Gob. Carrache. St. 'John preaching in the
defert. The landfcape rich and
fine, and the attitudes of the
figures nobly fpirited.
Salvator Rofa. EriBhonius delivered to the
Nymphs for education. Great
fpirit in the attitudes j but it
hangs in fo bad a light that one
can fee but httle of it.

Dominiehino. Mofes delivering the daugh-
ters from the fnares of the fhep-
herds. The poftures and atten-
tion of the figures fine. The
landfcape good.

Ditto. A landfcape. Some fifhermen ,•

and women wafhing linnen.
Very dark j the lights par-
tially and ftrangely thrown.

Fernandas. A youth playing on the guit-
tar. Great expreflion of atten-
tion.

Titian. Chrifi tempted in the Defert.

An infipid figure, and the colours
quite gone.

Dominic bico. Two Cherubs. Nothing.

Guer-

C 423 ]

Guerchino. A St. Jo/j/Zs head, with a
lamb. Very dark, but has fome
fpirit.

Schiavone. Marfyaa and Apollo^ with M/-
^i:z/. Very unplealing.

Unhio'wn. Cleopatra. Fine and fpirited.

Anni. Carrache. Copy of Corregios Cupid.
The drawing, fpirit, and relief
of the figure fine.

Ditto, The laying in the Sepulchre ;

an odtogon picture; flrongly ex-
prefiive.

J^itto. St. Francis in a vifion. Won-

derfully fine i exceedingly fpi-
rited, lively, and brilliant. The
attitudes are furprizingly great ;
and the life in every figure ftrik-
ing. The relief of the right
hand very ftrong.
Gab. de Carrache. A landfcape ; tlie wa-
terfalls good ; and the trees
natural.
'Titian. A Venus and Ciipidy as large as

life. Aftonifhingly fine. The
whole body moll: exquifitely
painted: — The attitude ealy,
graceful, and amazingly pleai-
E e 4 in^^

[ iH J
ing. The roundnefs and turn of
the Innbs in the relief of life
itfelf; the turn of the head and
peck elegantly graceful. The
face v/onderfully beautiful; the
colouring very fine; and, in a
word, the whole figure exqui-
fitely beautiful and enticing.

Ditto, Portrait of the woman that was

his model for the famous Venus
at Fiorefice. Very beautiful.

Gutdo. A choir of Angels. A nothing.

P. da Certona, Sketch of a cieling.
A ditto.

Ijud, Carrache. A half length as large as
life. Very fine, lively, and Ipi-
rited.

Giorgione. Half length of a woman as large
as life. Very difagreeable.

Titian. Our Lady with her Babe and

St. Johi. Very fine attitude and
drapery.

Giddo. Dying Magdalen and Cherubs.

Incomparably fine in exprefiion
and colouring.

yulio Romano. An Emperor on horfeback.
Very firong and foirited.

Vandyke,

[ 425 ]

Vandyke. King Charles the Firft's white
horfe. Very lively.

Borgognone. The Slaughter of the Inno-
cents. V/iid, but Ipiritcdi the
colours gone.

Florentine SchooJ. Conjlantine. There are
many figures in this piece, and
fpirited.

Unknown. A fmall piece containing feveral
figures, a group among rocks.
Moft fpiritedly touched. The
lights, drapery, and attitudes,
great ; fomething like Sahator.
Two figures, one of them fill-
ing. Spirited.

A Mafter and his Scholar. Ex-
ceeding fine. The airs of the
heads great, and the colouring
fine. A little in the ftile of
Rembrandt,

Diana. An unfiniflied fketch ;
the drawing of the naked figures
fine.

»S///i««j^ and the Elders; fmall.
Her figure good, but the cx-
prefiion of her countenance
foolifli.

Diito.

Ditto.
Ditto.

Ditto.

Ditto.

[ 426 ]

Ditto. A woman bathing, and a man

flealing her cloaths. Her figure
well done.

Ditto, A holyFamily j a fmall drawing.

Exceeding fine attitudes and ex-
preffion.

Ditto. The Adoration of theShepherds;

a drawing. Exceedingly fine.

Ditto, A Nativity; the Deity in the

clouds. The light on the Vir-»
gin's countenance good.

Ditto. A Virgin and Child; fmall.

Good colouring and attitude.

Corregio. Cbriji crowned with thorns.
Very fine.

Michael Angello delle BattagUe. Two fmall
pieces, the one reprefenting a
mountebank drawing a tooth ;
the other many people playing at
bowls. Good. The mounte-
bank one, well coloured.
* * 4^ * *
In the Hall of Chri/s- church, among

many others, the following portraits will

flrike you mofc.

Morley, Bifliop of W inch eft cr Good.
'Trevor y Bifliop of Durham. By Hudf.,u
Very fine drapery. Robinfon.

[ 427 ]
Robinfon, Primate of Ireland, Very

ipirited.
In an old Chapter-houfe, two portraits,

very expreflive and fpirited.

They are thought to be Frede^

ricki Duke o^ Saxony y and Philip,

Archduke of Aujiria.
The Radcliffhihvivy is a beautiful build-
ing: The ruftics, the double corinthian
pillars, the cornice, and balluftrade ; all
unite to form one complete whole, admira-
bly proportioned, and of the happicH: unity
of effect i and this without any termina-
tion : The conclufion in the ballulbade
would have been one of a mofi: elegant fim-
plicity; — but the dome rather hurts the
general efFedt: beiides, it is not equally
beautiful with the reft of the building ; its
being ribbed too much divides the attention
of the fpedtator, and the pediments around,
which fupport the urns, are heavy.

The infide is a circular domed room, of
forty-eight feet diameter, and iixiy high.
The dome, the upper and lower cornices,
and the furrounding arches, are light and
elegant, but the crofs work of compart-
ments fomewhat break the effeift; nor are
the ionic pillars at bottom well propor-
tioned

[ 428 ]

tioned to the room ; they are too fmall, and
without efFedl.

*(? ^'S" *'T» ^ /fv

In the Pidure-Gallery are many pieces
that are very capital. Thofe which pleafed
me mod are the following.
Holbein, Sir Thomas Bodley. Very fine.
Unknown, King Alfred, Good.

William of Wick ham. Very
fpirlted.

William Wainfleef, Bifhop of
Winchejler. Good.
Holbein. Sir Thomas Pope. A moft noble
portrait; the face and hands
admirable, and the drapery good.
Unknown. Henry IV. o^ France on horfe-
back. Lively and fpirited.
Richard Wightwick. Fine.
A ftatue of Williamy Earl of Pembroke,

A very noble and fpirited attitude.
Ditto of the Venus de Medicis. Pleafing.
Apollo.

Duke of Marlborough.
Bufts.

Tully,

Arijiides.

Zeno.

Phocion.

Vandyke,

[ 429 ]
Vandyke, Francifcus 'Junius -, a fketch :
Exceedingly fine, free, and fpi-
rited.

Kneller. Lord Crew, Blfhop oWurham.
Good.

Unknown. Martin Luther, A true pole-
mical countenance.

Lely. Sir Jofeph, Free and eafy,

Williams. Dr. King. Spirited.

Richard/on. Prior. Exceeding good.

Gib/on. Locke, Good.

Spagnoletti. Duns Scotus. Wonderfully
fpirited.

Unknown. Sh'Ric/jardTomlins.Yery good.
Tyc/jo Brahe. Ditto.

Gibfon. Dr. Flamjiead. Spirited.

Sebajiian Bourdon. God's covenant with
Noab. Difagreeable colouring,
and a ftrange group.

Sshalcken. The feven Vices on copper;
Pride, Lufl:, Sloth, Drunkennefs,
Revenge, Avarice, and Envy.
Exceedingly ftrong and fpirited.

yordaens. Chrijl's appearance to his Difci-
plcs after his refurredion. Very
fine.

Ramfay.

[ 43^ ]

Ram/ay. His prefent Majefty. Excellent
drapery, and a very pleafing at-
titude.

Unknown. Fruit piece. Good.

A mathematical piece. Fine.

Fra?ik Hail. A Dutch gardener. Very
fpirited.

Willarts. A florm. Strong and minute
exprefiion. Very fine.

Jordaens. Mofes{in\i\ng\htKock. Won-
derfully fine. The back of the
figure to the left noble. — The
child with it's finger in the
mouth great; but the group-
ing ftrange -, and Mofes totally de-
void of exprefiion.

Willarts, A Butch fifh- market. Amaz-
ingly fine. The figures are nu-
merous, and the fini£hing very

XJfiknown. St. Paul. Good.

Bar dwell. Thomas Fermor, Earl ol Pom-
fret, and his wife : A capital
piece of vulgarity.

Kneller. Addifon. Good.

Unknown. Chaucer, Good. Minute fi-

nifliing.

Vandyke.

[ 431 ]

Vandyke. Tlie great Earl of Ztrajford.
Middling i but the exprciiioii is
not weak.
Schroder. Charles XII. A noble pivflure.

Great ftrcngth and fpirit.
Unknown. The late King oiPniJfid, The
figure of a vulgar clown.

Sir Hejiry Saviiie. The h ands
and face exceedingly fine ; and
the minute imitation of the mat
aflonifliing.

Van Trump, Very good and
fpirited ; the attitude excellent.
Kneller. Dr. Wallis. The hands and

face incomparably fine.
Vandyke, Sir Kenelm Digby. Exceeding

fine.
Unknown, The Earl of Kildare, Good.
The Earl oi Pembroke. Very
fine.

Archbi(hop Cranmer. Good.
Sir Thomas Sackvillc. Earl of
Dorfet. Very fine.

Lady Betty Paulett. Grsat
finifhing.

Among the Pomfret Statues, the follow-
ing I remarked particularJy :

Statue

[ 432 ]

Statue of a Grecian Lady. A hugeous

piece of immenlity.
Ditto oi Archimedes, Fine.
Ditto oi Minerva. The left thigh and leg
feen finely through the drapery.
Ditto of Cicero. Drapery very fine ; the
head fpirited, but the attitude of
the right arm mean.
Statue of a Grecian Lady. Very fine.
Ditto of Sabina. Attitude and fold of
the right arm fine ; but the
drapery fomewhat ftiff.
A Venus de Medicis. The neck and right
arm admirable ; alfo the antique
part of the left. All that is an-
tique of this ftatue is fine.
Statue of Minerva. Drapery good;
"finely tucked under the left arm.
A Venus cloathed, Exquifite ; the wet
drapery difplays the naked thro'
it in a very fine ftile. The form
of her body admirable.
Statue of Clio fitting. Turn of the head
and neck fine -, and the attitude
good.
Statue of a young Dacian : Perhaps
Paris. It is of' great antiquity.
Drapery good.

Statue

I 433 ]

Statue of Antinous, Difproportion it-
felf, but owing, I fuppofc, to the
joinings, or dcfigned for an ele-
vated fituation.
A Grecian Lady. The difplay of the
left thigh and leg through the
drapery fine.
Statue of Jupiter and Leda. Much de-
faced; but the left leg is well
feen through the drapery, and
the turn of her right thigh is
good i likewife the remains of a
fine attitude.
Statue of Scipio Africanus. Drapery
bold, and the pofture of \\\^
hand and arm fine.
A trunk of a woman. Good.
A boy with his finger in his mouth.

A nothing.
Statue of Jupiter fitting. Heavy.
Ditto of a woman. Her form iatw

through the drapery is good.
The trunk of a v/oman. The right
thigh and leg is pretty well feen
through the drapery.
Germanicuss tomb. Spirited reliefs.
Statue of a Roman Conful. The poflure

of the right arm unnatural.
Vol. III. F f Ditto

[ 434 ]

Ditto of a womari. Good.

Ditto of P/;r J. A b<^amiful figure ar.d
drapery.

Ditto of Hirciles. Indi5erent.

Hymen. The attitude nne.

Starue of Veyiiii half naked. Her body
very £ne j the draper}^ llipping
oit it, and the turn of her left
thigh and leg itriking.

Statue oi Melpomene litting. A ver\' ex-
preilive attitude, fine arm, and
noble draper}'.

A Grecizn Lady. Bad draperv.

Statue of Camilla. Li^ht draoenr.

Ditto cf a Grecian Philofopher. Mid-
dling.

Statue of Cai'uj Mariiis. Very fine
expreiHon j and the pofture of
the right hand and arm very
natural.

Ditto cf Bacchus naked. The turn of
the body incomparable ; the at-
titude and ipirit of the fgure
noble; alive.

Statue oi'julia. DifgufHng.

The trunk of a woman litting. Re-
mains of a good ftatue, but fadly
defaced.

A naked

[ 435 j
A naked trank cf a mm. Ver.- _ , _ ^ ,

the back excellent.
A trunk of a woman. Middiiae.
Statue -zjtHercuhs choakin? a rrv

great exp-ciTion ,- ' : cf

the thi^h a.22.:nir L._ -, -^ir-
tne whole nae.
Trjnk of a woman fitting. Qyzd.
Bcjs embracing. Ditto.
Bul> cf 2 y: in. Dir.:*.

Ditto of a Z Dirro.

Ditto of a 1:1: :her. Ditto.

Ditto of ^7^^.^. Turn cf the hei:
Dino of Femis di Medici:. C
In the Repofitory of the ..
Marbles, is at Drefent a Imi" .
Bronzes, ctj. lately left to the , — ..:„:^. ,
the fcllcvrL-r ;r? the principal :

;; \ •. Good

Noah.
Mojes.
Socrjtes.

Kin^ Ds-jiJ. Good drapery.

D.::.

F :" z

[ 436 ]

A boar.

Tlato.

David and Goliah,

Duke of Marlborough ^

Hercules and Antceus.

Hercules and Hydra,

Venus. Good.

The torturing of a Bifhop in the In-
quifition. A curious ftroke.

Venus in drapery. Fine haunches.

Apollo.

A Sibyl.

Cupid on a dolphin.

Hercules and Centaur.

A dragon.

A Ccefaf^ head in clay. Good.

Sir Ifaac Newton*

Miltiades, A relief in ilone : Very
antique.
You will obfervc, that I have given them
as they ftnnd, but in ilrange confufion, of
Mofes and Socrates, King Da'vid and Plato,
&c. I fhould not have inferted this laft,
had .'T.ny other been extant for the ufe of
ipedators ; for the colledtion is but fo, fo.

In the Bodleian Library, among many
other pidiures, I remarked thefe :

Mr.

[ 437 ]

Mr. Bowles. The beft among the libra-
rians.

Sir Kench: Digby. Good.

Sir Thomas More; by his niece. Very
good.

Erafftmsy by Holbein. Exceeding fine.

The Queen oi Bohemia. Very Hvely and
fpirited.

Before I return again to Agriculture, you
will allow me to conclude, by alluring you

A P P E N-

[ 43S j

APPENDIX to VOL. lil.

Description ^^? Machine
to Slice T u R N E P s, for feeding Neat
Cattky ^c.

Invented by C u t h e e r t Clarke, of
Belford^ Northumberhnd.

PLATE XII.

FIGURE I. is the perfpe^live of the whole
machine, which is about four feet fix inches
high, two feet fix inches long, and two feet v/ide out-
fide meafuie ; it is made of common deal, three quar-
ters of an inch thick, and its four pofts are of oak,
about four inches fquare; the iztx.^ handles fiiding
frame, crofs bars, C5V. are ah'o of oak : The whole
machine can be afforded complete for ll. is. which
will, with two men, flice three tons of turncps, into
ilices of three quarters of an inch thick, in one hour:
It is ajfo portable, and may, by the two men who
work it, be moved from one houfe or field to another,
borne by two liandles like a fedan chair. A. A. the
hopper, or trunk of the machine, which is angular
within, fiiited to the angle the knife, when placed in
it's frame, n^:- 2. d. A. d. makes with the fides
thereof. B. B. B. B. the frame which Aides to and
fro upon two rollers, D. D. which greatly abate the
friction. E. E. two firong leather ft.'-ops, which ftcp
the fiider at each end alternately ; one end of each of
tKofe llrops is faftencd to the crofs bars, F. F. and
the other ends to the rounds, B. B. B. B. Fig. 2. irt
the notches, C. C. with a buckle, and may be taken
up or let out occafionally. C. C. in fig. i. are the
two handles for carrying it by from place to place.
G. G. Feet morticed upon the fcur pofts, which fe-

cure

[ 439 ]

cure it from falling. H. H. Two crofs bars between
thofe feet. Fig. 3. the knife, with two edges, which
being turned with its claws, b. b. t^c. at right angles
to its own plane, is put into the mortices, d. d. Iii"
fig. 2. the fcrew-pins, with the hand nuts, C. C.
tighten it in the frame ; and fig. 4. which reprcfents
a collar of iron, about a quarter of an inch thick, of
which there are about eight in number for the two
claws ; their ufes are to put between the fhouldcrs of
the knife, and the upper fries of the frame, and are put
in number, as the edge of the knife is required to be
raifed above the floor of the Aider, in order to fize the
flice, /'. e. they are put on the upper fide of the frame
to make the flice thick, and removed from that
fide, and put between the hand-nuts and underhdes of
the frame, when the flice is to be thinner, in propor-
tion thereto. The flice is cut exaitly as a carpenter's
inftrument, called a fpook-fhave, ^c. takes its {hav-
ing, only the turnep-knife cuts both backwards and
forwards. There is alfo a contrivance for cleaning
■ the eye of the frame, A. fig. 2. when liie knife is
placed upon it, viz. when the Aider is pulled, ^\-. as
much to one end as the ftrop will admit, there is a
piece of hard wood, nailed upon a crofs bar, at I.
fig. I. which projects about an inch towards the infide
of the machine, and is fo thin as to ram in below the
edge of the knife, whatever flice it is fet to form, f:.r
it is not fo thick as the leafl Jlice the inftrument con make,
viz. half an inch., and thereby clears the eye ; at eacii
end there is the faaie contrivance, which effectually
prevents any interruption in the cuttin'j;. The way tp
ufe the machine is very cafy and natural j for as foon as
the hopper is idled at random, by throwing up a ban<et
full at a time, two men iet themiclvcs down on ftools,
is'e. placed conveniently, and put out their feet againll
the ports of the machine, then take the rounds in
their hands, about the places marked ]^. B. B. B. in
fig. 2. and fo pull the frame backwards and forwards
as abovefaid ; and, from their pofition of body, they
have great power, the extenfors of the legs, thighs,
back, and arms, being mutually employed in che fame
advantageous manner as ini-ovving a bo:;', i^c. The

knife.

r 440 ]

knife, at every pufh, &c. pafTes quite thro' the hoppef
into a cavity in the end, where no turneps can enter,
becaufe it is not above two inches high, and exa6Hv
as wide as the knife is broad ; indeed, if the turnep is
fo fmall as to go into thefe dimenfions, it will be driven
in undoubtedly, but will be fliced by the knife aS
nicely as if four times as large. The intention of thefe
cavities, of which there are one at each end of the
hopper, are to let the knife pafb into them, as above-
faid, in order to let the turneps, which are in the hop-
por, fall flat upon the floor of the Aider, and then the
edge of the knife, which is next to them, as foon as it
emerges out of the cavity, bites the turneps, and takes
a flice of any thicknefs, from half an inch to one inch
three quarters at pleafure, the whole width and length
of the hopper at one flroke, and the fame in its return.
In fhort, this machine makes great difpatch, does the
bufinefs very neatly, and with an inconceivable degree
of eafe ; is very Ample, and not at all liable to be out
of order, otherwife than what the grinding-ftone can
readily recEtify. And although fome people have un-
dertaken to {hew, that turneps need no flicing, it
muft be acknowledged, that, where fo great dif-
patch can be made, this, or any other inftrument
which does the buflnefb as well, and comes at fo low a
price, will make a profitable return to the occupier, in
as much as, by its means-, the rifque of choaking is en-
tirely fuperfedcd, waite prevented, and cattle, which
have not been accuflomed to cat turneps, entered im-
mediately to feed upon that valuable efculent ; and
alfo makes the feeding of thofe cattle, which even
take to eating turneps unfliced, lefs difficult, and they
feed with greater expedition, becaufe when the turneps
are propeily fliced, an ox, ^c. will fill himfelf in half
the time it will take him to do it when he has the
turneps to break with his mouth, which is fo painful
an operation, as often to make the mouth bleed, fwell,
Uc. which deters them from eating until they arc
near fiiii vin'%

E.':J of the Third Volume.

/.•/.///. /y./^.^v/,/^.vv./

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