which would permit a current of air to pass through, and allow them sometimes to be visited by the genial and evaporating sunbeams; for it happens unfortunately that much sun-shine, and other of Heaven's best gifts, are expended in some parts of the county to very little purpose. To these animadversions, however, there are two honourable exceptions. Mr. Darke of Bredon,

whose Memoir was published in 1794, by the Board of Agriculture, mentions that there was then an excellent example for perspicuity and attention at the head of the county, and he adds, that the late Judge Perrot used frequently to say that the late Earl of Coventry had brought a million of money into Worcestershire, from his skilful exertions in making roads through the county; and here we cannot help noticing, that the attention paid by his successor to the cross-roads round Croome, is highly praise-worthy, as they are kept in a most excellent state, and are perfectly dry and pleasant, when the coach-road in their neighbourhood is hardly passable for a pedestrian *. We must also agree with Mr. Pomeroy, that the laudable exertions of the "Society of the Vale of Evesham" for the improvement of their neighbourhood, are well worthy of imitation; and that they now have the pleasure of seeing their district assume a new face under their auspices: so that, instead of its being studiously avoided, as formerly, from the inconvenience, and even danger, of travelling, they have now to congratulate themselves and the public, on a very safe and pleasant communication, and which, indeed, has brought the direct London road from Worcester through their immediate vicinity + When these land and water communications are completed, it may be presumed that the

COM

On this subject the remarks of the Editor, may be considered as resulting from experience, as great part of his Observations were actually made on foot.

The regulations of this Road Club may be found in Pitt's Survey of the County, page 262; and as good sociable dinners form part of their plan, it is not likely to be unpalateable in any part of the kingdom.

COMMERCE AND MANUFACTURES

Of the county will feel their good effects. Even at present these are very considerable, not only from its own produce, but from its laying in a situation to make it the depot, and line of communication for the mining and manufacturing counties which almost surround it. Of its own exported produce, we may enumerate the great quantity of hops, fruit, cyder, and perry, which are bought at Worcester markets, rendering it the great mart for those articles in the western district of the kingdom; the advantages resulting from which are evident in the large fortunes made by the dealers in those articles, not only in the regular supply of a constant trade, but sometimes from lucky speculations in cheap years; speculations which have this good effect, that they are free from the evils of monopoly, as they only take place in plentiful seasons, at the same time that they ensure a market to the grower, without his being at the risk and expence of sending his surplus stock to more distant markets. This county also exports a considerable surplus of its own manufactures, in the articles of Kidderminster goods, Worcester gloves, in China and glassware, and in nails, and the smaller articles of iron-work, as well as barrod, and sheet-iron, for the northern parts *.

We must not omit the great quantities of salt from Droitwich, of oil and oil-cake from Evesham, and of clover and grass-seeds, corn, beans, flour, malt, salmon, fat cattle, sheep, lambs, hogs, hay, timber, large and small, from the county in general. The constant employ resulting from this extensive home commerce, and from the present improved state of agriculture, must be, and indeed is, highly beneficial to the increase of

POPULATION,

Which is evident from such of the late returns as have been published. By the returns in 1801, Worcestershire was calculated to contain 26,711 houses, in which were 29,741 families; of these there were 67,631 males, and 71,702 females, making a

total

The manufactures here slightly mentioned, will be detailed more amply in their respective places,

total of 139,333. The number employed in trade and manufactures was estimated at 30,230, and those in agriculture at 38,865, equal in the whole to 69,095, leaving rather more than one-half, whom we may consider as consisting of those in a state of infancy, or past labour, of professional gentlemen and those of independent fortunes. This is sufficient to prove that Worcestershire ranks high in fertility and industry; for this population amounts to 180 per square mile, whilst the average of England and Wales is only 152; and it may be added, that the proportions of the manufacturing and agricultural classes, are as 3 and 4 in 7, of the whole number. By the late returns, males 78,261; females 82,740; total 161,001, giving an increase of 21,668.

It is to be lamented, that notwithstanding the great incitements to industry, the

POOR AND POOR'S RATES

To shew have been progressively increasing for many years*. this, it is only necessary to state from the various authorities, that in the reign of Charles II. the rates only amounted to 10,6401.; in 1776, to 26,9061. 7s. 5d.; in 1803, to 87,307, and in 1807, as Mr. Pitt estimates, in his survey, to near 90,0001. which, allowing the actual annual value of the county to be 600,0001. amounted then to three shillings in the pound, or to twelve shillings annually per head, on the whole population; nor does it appear, from the enquiries of the Editor, that any diminution has taken place, but that in most places they are considerably increased. Part of this increase is, no doubt, unavoidable; and great part of this actual mendicity must exist where population is extensive; where fluctuations in manufactures take place, sometimes from a state of warfare; nay, sometimes from fashion; where a sudden and temporary demand for particular fabrics raises the price of labour, and induces the artisan and his family to acquire habits of comparative luxury beyond their usual expenditure; nay, prompts him to idleness, from the consideration that less work now brings him more money; and particularly where the reduction of small farms throws a great part of the agricultural popu

An exception to this will be found under the article "Bromsgrove."

lation into the class of day-labourers, and not only lessens their means and power of saving money, but even takes away that stimulus which would otherwise prompt them to be economical; for the small farmer would scorn that parochial assistance, which the day-labourer, is not only not ashamed to receive, but actually considers as his due. To look for a radical cure of these Evils, would be absurd in the present state of human affairs; nor would it have been possible for any human wisdom, or human power, to have guarded against them; yet much may still be done to ameliorate the situation of those who more immediately suffer from them, and much may perhaps be done to counterbalance them. To add a new theory, however, to the many that have been sported on this subject, would be as inutile as it would be superfluous; yet the statement of one simple fact, on the authority of Mr. Carpenter, of Chaddeswick, as recorded in the late Agricultural Survey, may perhaps induce some thinking people to encourage the same spirit of industry in their respective neighbourhoods; and it is perhaps not going too far to say, that there is more real and useful benevolence in saving one poor family from parish support, by leading them to industry, than by the so much boasted Christmas donations to a whole parish, which, by contrasting feasting and famine, tend only to produce envy, idleness, and drunkenness, and to reduce even the respectable poor to the situation, or at least to the feelings, of paupers! The fact alluded to, is simply this: in the spring of 1800, two day-labourers gave a guinea for an acre of waste land, in order to plant it with potatoes; they pared and burnt it by moonlight, after their daily labour was over, then spread the ashes, and paid for plowing them in; their crop proved so good, and the price of potatoes was at that time so high, that they actually shared forty pounds between them, independent of a sufficient supply reserved for their families. To those who will think, this requires no comment. More good than has hitherto been received by the poor, might be produced by

VOL. XV.

D

EN

ENCLOSURES,

which fortunately are taking place every day in this county, on a rational and liberal scale. We think it absurd to join in the cry, that the comforts of the poor are taken away, because where a poor man fed a goose, there is now sufficient produce to keep a horse, cow, or three sheep; and we know that the claims of the poor, when commons are enclosed, are always attended to in the allotments; but it ought not to be forgotten, that although large farms are beneficial, there is a sufficient quantity of ground already enclosed for their supply, and that it is possible to form such arrangements as would prevent future enclosures, or part of them at least, from ever being let in larger farms than from twenty to fifty acres, thereby always giving a certain number of families a chance of competence, and tending to preserve one of our best bulwarks, a hardy, independent, yet humble peasantry.

With respect to Enclosures in general, if any proof of their necessity was required, we should simply present the following extract from Mr. Darke's Memoir of the State of Agriculture round Bredon, in 1794:

"The mixture of property in our fields prevents our land being drained, and one negligent farmer not opening his drains, will frequently flood the lands of ten that lie above, to the very great loss of his neighbours, and the community at large. Add to this, that although our lands are naturally well adapted to the breed of sheep, yet the draining, &c. is so little attended to in general, that, out of at least one thousand sheep, annually pastured in our open fields, not more than forty on an average are annually drawn out for slaughter, or other uses; infectious disorders, rot, scab, &c. sweep them off, which would not be the case if property was separated!"

Much improvement in this respect has, however, taken place, and though Worcestershire cannot boast of any specific Agricul tural Society, yet as most of the gentlemen of the county are con

nected