have noticed in Vol. 1, p. 355. The external walls may be eleven inches thick, which will be quite sufficient; and the runners in that case must be placed so as to leave a vacuity of two inches in the centre of the wall. As a brick is only nine inches long and four and a half broad, the transverse bricks, or headers, must be flush on the outside, which will leave an uneven surface on the inside; but this is all the better as supplying a means for the plaster to take a good hold. The foundations must be solid, and a brick and a half in thickness; and the earth must be well rammed round them.

The bearing timbers may be of elm or of larch, and the rafters of the principal roof should be four and a half by three-quarter inches. The roof is to be covered with terrometalic Italian tiles; these are of an iron colour, which is much preferable to those of a glaring red colour. The chimney stack is to have lateral openings, as shewn in the view, and be covered with iron coloured tiles; the shafts to be coated with cement. The windows are to have perpendicular wooden mullions or astragals, and to turn round on a pivot and socket in the centre at top and bottom, see Vol. I. p. 153. The porches and window dressings may, for the sake of cheapness, be of wooden work, painted of a stone colour. All the internal finishing should be executed in the strongest and plainest manner; and all the external wood work ought to be painted four times in oil. The internal divisions may be of brick on edge, or of brick nogging flat; but if the building is situated where wood is abundant they may be of lath and quartering, as the roof is wholly supported by the external walls.

The expense of this building, including the offices, if the walls are of brick work-the roof covered with terrometalic tiles, and the joiner's work finished in a strong but plain manner, will be about £408, or £102 each house. If the external walls are built of stone work, that is, quartering framed as if for internal divisions-wattled with small branches of trees between the quartering, and the spaces filled in with mud, the expense will be greatly lessened, especially where wood can be had cheap; but, perhaps, brick (or stone if cheap) walls will be found more economical in the long run.

The situation most proper for such a building must depend upon many circumstances, but it will be of no use to erect it where the soil is not particularly good for the gardeners, so as to repay the labour bestowed on them; and if there is an opportunity of choosing a situation as to effect, I should say, that from its characteristic as an Italian structure, it might be advantageously placed in rather a low than an elevated situation. But wherever the situation may be, the

building must be so placed that a line running north and south will be a diagonal of the parallelogramatical form of the ground plan; and, above all, in a situation where there is an abundance of good spring water. A dial may be very properly placed on the South East side of the building shewn in the perspective view; and the gardens to be well fenced in by a thorny hedge, as exhibited by the drawings.

THE CONDITION OF THE BRITISH PEASANTRY, AND THE MANNER OF IMPROVING THAT CONDITION CONSIDERED.

The first thing necesssary to the comfort and happiness of mankind, after food and clothing are provided, is a comfortable home; but until the former are supplied the labourer's dwelling can afford him but little pleasure, however neat and commodious it may be. It is, therefore, the duty of those who have it in their power, to forward every measure that may tend to the support of their fellow beings; because, the law of Nature and that of reason have recognised the principle that every individual has a right to a share for his sustainance of the products of the soil he inhabits; and those who deny this principle by pertinaciously withholding the means by which their peasantry might be brought from a state of starvation and misery, to that of comfort and happiness, enter as it were a protest against that power which sustains nature for the joint benefit of all.

As every man, with the exception of the aged and infirm, is capable of producing more than what is necessary for his own support, it is for the privilege of his being allowed fully to exercise his capacity, for doing so that I implore the landowner of Britain in behalf of my fellow labourers. The want of employment is the great drawback to the comfort and happiness of agricultural labourers; and, consequently, their want of means greatly affects the operative manufacturer, as the former would, were they able, be great consumers of the productions of the latter. While we see that this want of exercise to dormant labour increases the poor's rates, and prevents the increase of the country's wealth, is there no remedy for the evil? Is the science of agriculture perfect, which, under the present existing laws, is our only refuge from starvation? Is the country sufficiently broken by hedge rows to mark out the divisions of property, to preserve it, and prevent encroachment? Are there no drains, ditches, or fences wanted, which would enhance the value of the land, and make it more productive? Are there no waste lands that might advantageously be reclaimed from rivers, by deepening their bed and narrowing their width? Are there no small canals that might be profitably made

for the conveyance of stone, lime, gravel, marl, fuel &c., so as to be the cheapest mode of transporting such material from place to place, until rail-roads become more in vogue? But above all, are there no waste lands that might render food for men? Yes, can it be believed, that while thousands are in want of food, there are in this country between fourteen and fifteen million acres of land of a fertile soil which have never been disturbed by spade or plough; and between thirteen and fourteen million acres of barren and boggy land, a great part of which might be made productive! True it is that much of this land is required for the support of cattle, but it is equally true that many of these cattle do no good direct or indirect to the community, and much of this land serves no useful purpose whatever. Again, are the houses of the farmers and peasantry in general not in want of repair? Indeed, no part of the country offers greater scope for improvement than the dwellings of agricultural labourers.

The accompanying design might be built, in a district where wood is abundant, much cheaper than the amount of the estimate, as I have already observed; but even if built of brick, the interest for the outlay of capital, supposing each occupier to pay as rent only £5. 10s. per annum, would be about 5 per cent.

In addition to what I have already said, a great deal might be done to employ the labourer by planting; this would be a great source of wealth to the inheritors of the estates on which it is extensively practised, as there is always a demand for timber; and ultimately we might produce that useful material as cheap as importing it from America, Norway, Memel, &c. Much might also be done by enterprising landlords in combining together and forming rail-roads, common roads, and extensive canals through the interior of the country, for the more speedy conveyance of manufactures.

It may here be asked where the capital is to come from to effect all these improvements, but with enterprizing landlords this can seldom be an obstacle, as the majority of them are wealthy; and those who are not so fortunate can easily borrow money on their estates, which the improved condition of the latter would enable them to repay; and all estates left to minors should have the overplus of rental, after a moderate sum for their support, expended in improving the estates, until the heir comes of age. Enterprize and resolution are It is indeed a hard case when by alone wanting to effect the whole. misgovernment, and mismanagement one fellow being is obliged to

"Beg a brother of the earth,

"To give him leave to toil!"

and yet his petition is rejected. It is for this reason we could wish

to see the petitioners on a more independent footing, which might be done by extending the cottage system, (at least until we have effected an abolition of the corn Laws,) which would prevent the peasantry from literal starvation when out of employment. And as I am of opinion that the foregoing sources of employment would be equally advantageous to the employer and employed, I would here notice that the cottage system would be equally profitable to the landlord and tenant; because the extra trouble with small occupiers would be more than balanced by the extra proportionate rent that they would be able to pay. I am the more anxious to impress this fact on the minds of proprietors, as I am rather sceptical on the point of many landlords giving themselves much trouble about any system by which they have no immediate interest. But in this case the landlord may benefit himself, and at the same time have the pleasure of bestowing those favours which both "bless the giver and receiver." For the efficacy of the cottage system, we have only to look to the good effects produced by the Labourer's Friend Society, to Fredric's Ord. in Holland, America, to Jamaica, to France, Hungary, and indeed to all the continental countries of Europe, and there we shall find the good effects produced by this system.

I cannot conclude this subject without noticing that great source of all physical power, and moral worth-education. I consider it necessary to occupy a little space with a few remarks on this head, because wealthy persons in general are, from a mistaken notion, more ready to withhold than to impart education to their dependants. It is true that there are many valuable Institutions in this country for teaching youth the elementary principles of knowledge; but it is too frequently the case that the system of education generally adopted, and what is understood by the name of education is not such as to address itself to the mind and feelings so as to require an exercise of the mental faculties*. Neither does it tend to the developement; exercise, and adaptation of physical strength or dexterity. In many schools in Germany, branches of different professions and trades are taught to youth, as well as the mere elementary principles of learning, which latter, are at best but the means of acquiring education. What is Knowledge and Wisdom, far from being one,

*

Have ofttimes no connection. Knowledge dwells
In heads replete with thoughts of other men;
Wisdom in minds attentive to their own.
Knowledge, a rude unprofitable mass,

The mere materials with which Wisdom builds

Till smoothed, and squared, and fitted to its place,
Does but encumber whom it seems to enrich.

Cowper's Task, Book vi.