Harbord。ItwasMarshallwhosuggestedthecreationofaBoardofRuralAffairs，
　　andthepreparationofSurveysandMinutes。Thoughheneverheldanofficial
　　position，itwasfromhisownchoice，forhepreferredtopublishhisown
　　MinutesandSurveysratherthantowritethemfortheBoard。Hewasinterested
　　inphilologyaswellasinagriculture；hepublishedavocabularyofthe
　　YorkshiredialectandhewasafriendofJohnson，whomheratherscandalised
　　bycondoningSundaylabourinagricultureunderspecialcircumstances。Nathaniel
　　Kent1737-1810studiedhusbandryintheAustrianNetherlands，wherehe
　　hadbeensecretarytoanambassador，andonhisreturntoEnglandin1766
　　hewasemployedasanestateagentandlandvaluer。Hewroteawell-known
　　bookHintstoGentlemenofLandedProperty，andhehadconsiderableinfluence
　　inimprovingthemanagementofvariousestates。
　　Hewas，forashorttime，bailiffofGeorgeIII’sfarmatWindsor。All
　　ofthesewriters，thoughtheyareveryfarfromtakingtheviewwhichfound
　　expressionintheriotsintheLincolnshirefens，orintheanonymouspamphlet
　　alreadymentioned，addressedsomeveryimportantcriticismsandrecommendations
　　totheclassthatwasinclosingtheEnglishcommons。BothMarshallandYoung
　　complainedoftheinjusticeofthemethodofchoosingcommissioners。Marshall，
　　ardentchampionofenclosureashewas，andnosentimentalistonthesubject
　　ofthecommoners，wroteamostbitteraccountofthemotivesoftheenclosers。
　　’Atthisjuncture，itistrue，theownersofmanorsandtithes，whetherclergy
　　orlaity，menofministryormenofopposition，areequallyonthealert：
　　nothoweverpressingforwardwithofferingsandsacrificestorelievethe
　　presentdistressesofthecountry，butsearchingforvantagegroundtoaid
　　theminthescramble。’12*Holdingthisview，hewasnotunnaturallyill-content
　　withtheplanoflettingthebiglandlordsnominatethecommissioners，and
　　proposedthatthelordofthesoilandtheownerorownersoftithesshould
　　chooseonecommissionereach，thattheownerorownersofpasturageshould
　　choosetwo，andthatthefourshouldchooseafifth。ArthurYoungproposed
　　thatthesmallproprietorsshouldhaveashareinthenominationofcommissioners
　　eitherbyaunionofvotesorotherwise，asmightbedetermined。
　　ThegeneralengrossingoffarmswasarraignedbyThomasStone，theauthor
　　ofanimportantpamphlet，Suggestionsforrenderingtheinclosureofcommon
　　fieldsandwastelandsasourceofpopulationandofriches，1787，whoproposed
　　thatinfutureenclosuresfarmsshouldbeletoutindifferentsitesfrom
　　£；40to£；200ayear。HethoughtfurtherthatParliamentshouldconsider
　　theadvisabilityofforbiddingthealienationofcottagers’property，in
　　ordertostopthefritteringawayofcottagers’estateswhichwasgeneral
　　underenclosure。Kent，apassionateenthusiastforenclosing，wasnotless
　　criticalofthepracticeofthrowingfarmstogether，apracticewhichhad
　　raisedthepriceofprovisionstothelabourer，andheappealedtolandlords
　　toaidthedistressedpoorbyreducingthesiteoftheirfarms，aswellas
　　byraisingwages。Arbuthnot，theauthorofapamphletonAnInquiryinto
　　theConnectionbetweenthepresentPriceofProvisionsandtheSizeofFarms，
　　byaFarmer，1773，whohaddefendedthelarge-farmsystemagainstDr。Price，
　　wrote，’Myplanistoallottoeachcottagethreeorfouracreswhichshould
　　beannexedtoitwithoutpoweroralienationandwithoutrentwhileunder
　　thecovenantofbeingkeptingrass。’
　　Somuchforwritersonagriculture。Buttheeighteenthcenturyproduced
　　twoauthoritativewritersonsocialconditions。Anystudentofsocialhistory
　　whowishestounderstandthisperiodwouldfirstturntothethreegreat
　　volumesofEden’sStateofthePoor，publishedin1797，asastorehouseof
　　coldfacts。Davies，whowroteTheCaseofLabourersinHusbandry，published
　　in1795，islessfamousthanhedeservestobe，ifwearetojudgefromthe
　　factthattheDictionaryofNationalBiographyonlyknowsabouthimthat
　　hewasRectorofBarkhaminBerkshire，andagraduateofJesusCollege，Oxford，
　　thathereceivedaD。D。degreein1800，thatheistheauthorofthisbook，
　　andthathedied，perhaps，intheyear1809。ButDavies’book，whichcontains
　　theresultofmostcarefulandpatientinvestigation，madeaprofoundimpression
　　oncontemporaryobservers。Howlettcalledit’incomparable，’anditisimpossible
　　forthemodernreadertoresistitsatmosphereofrealityandtruth。This
　　countryparsongivesusasimple，faithfulandsincerepictureofthefacts，
　　seenwithoutillusionorprejudice，andfreefromalltheconventionalaffectations
　　ofthetime：apricelesslegacytothosewhoareimpatientofthegeneralisations
　　withwhichtherichdismissthepoor。Nowbothofthesewriterswarnedtheir
　　contemporariesofthedangeroftheuncontrolledtendenciesoftheage。Eden
　　proposedthatineveryenclosureacertainquantityoflandshouldbereserved
　　forcottagersandlabourers，tobevestedinthewholedistrict。Hespoke
　　infavourofthecroftersinScotland，anddeclaredthatprovisionofthis
　　kindwasmadeforthelabouringclassesinthefirstsettledtownshipsof
　　NewEngland。DavieswasstillmoreemphaticincallinguponEnglandtosettle
　　cottagersandtoarresttheprocessofengrossingfarms。13*
　　Thusofalltherememberedwritersoftheperiodwhohadanypractical
　　knowledgeofagricultureorofthepoor，thereisnotonewhodidnottry
　　toteachthegoverningclasstheneedforreform，andthedangersofthe
　　stateintowhichtheywereallowingruralsocietytodrift。Parliamentwas
　　assailedonallsideswithcriticismsandrecommendations，anditsrefusal
　　toalteritswayswasdeliberate。
　　Oftheprotestsofthetimethemostimportantandsignificantcamefrom
　　ArthurYoung。Nomanhadbeensoimpatientofobjectionstoenclosure：no
　　manhadtakensosevereanddisciplinaryaviewofthelabourer：nomanhad
　　dismissedsolightlytheappealsforthepreservationofthefragmentary
　　possessionsofthepoor。Hehadtaughtaverysimplephilosophy，thatthe
　　morethelandownerpressedthefarmer，andthemorethefarmerpressedthe
　　labourer，thebetteritwasforagriculture。Hehadbelievedasimplicitly
　　asSinclairhimself，andwithapparentlyaslittleefforttomasterthefacts，
　　thatthecottagerswerecertaintobenefitbyenclosure。Allthisgivespathos，
　　aswellasforce，tohisremarkablepaper，publishedunderthetitleAnInquiry
　　intotheProprietyofapplyingWastestothebetterMaintenanceandSupport
　　ofthePoor。
　　Theoriginofthisdocumentisinteresting。Itwaswrittenin1801，a
　　fewyearsaftertheSpeenhamlandsystemhadbeguntofixitselfonthevillages。
　　Thegrowthofthepoorrateswastroublingthemindsoftheupperandmiddle
　　classes。ArthurYoung，inthecourseofhistravelsatthistime，stumbled
　　onthediscoverythatinthoseparisheswherethecottagershadbeenable
　　tokeeptogetheratinypatchofproperty，theyhadshownaSpartandetermination
　　torefusetherefugeofthePoorLaw。Whenoncehehadobservedthis，he
　　madefurtherinvestigationswhichonlyconfirmedhisfirstimpressions。This
　　openedhiseyestotheconsequencesofenclosureasithadbeencarriedout，
　　andhebegantoexaminethehistoryoftheseoperationsinanewspirit。
　　Hethenfoundthatenclosurehaddestroyedwiththepropertyofthepoor
　　oneofthegreatincentivestoindustryandself-respect，andthathisview
　　thatthebenefitofthecommonstothepoorwas’perfectlycontemptible，’
　　and’whenittemptsthemtobecomeownersofcattleorsheepusuallyruinous，’14*
　　wasfundamentallywrong。Beforetheenclosures，thedespisedcommonshad
　　enabledthecottagertokeepacow，andthis，sofarfrombringingruin，
　　hadmeantinverymanycasesallthedifferencebetweenindependenceand
　　pauperism。HisscrutinyoftheActsconvincedhimthatinrespectofthis
　　theyhadbeenunjust。’BynineteenoutoftwentyInclosureBillsthepoor
　　areinjured，andsomegrosslyinjured……Mr。ForsterofNorwich，aftergiving
　　meanaccountoftwentyinclosuresinwhichhehadactedasCommissioner，
　　statedhisopinionontheirgeneraleffectonthepoor，andlamentedthat
　　hehadbeenaccessorytotheinjuringof2000poorpeople，attherateof
　　twentyfamiliesperparish……Thepoorintheseparishesmaysay，andwith
　　truth，“Parliamentmaybetenderofproperty：allIknowisthatIhad
　　acowandanActofParliamenthastakenitfromme。”’
　　ThispaperappearedontheeveoftheEnclosureActof1801，theActto
　　facilitateandcheapenprocedure，whichYoungandSinclairhadworkedhard
　　tosecure。Itwasthereforeanopportunemomentfortryingtotemperenclosure
　　tothedifficultiesofthepoor。ArthurYoungmadeapassionateappealto
　　theupperclassestorememberthesedifficulties。’TopassActsbeneficial
　　toeveryotherclassintheStateandhurtfultothelowestclassonly，when
　　thesmallestalterationwouldpreventit，isaconductagainstwhichreason，
　　justiceandhumanityequallyplead。’Hethenproceededtooutlineaconstructive
　　scheme。Heproposedthattwentymillionsshouldbespentinsettinguphalf
　　amillionfamilieswithallotmentsandcottages：thefee-simpleofthecottage
　　andlandtobevestedintheparish，andpossessiongrantedunderanAct
　　ofParliament，onconditionthatifthefatherorhisfamilybecamechargeable
　　totherates，thecottageandlandshouldreverttotheparish。Theparishes
　　weretocarryoutthescheme，borrowingthenecessarymoneyonthesecurity
　　oftherates。15*’Aman，’hetoldthelandlords，inapassagetouchedperhaps
　　withremorseaswellaswithcompassion，’willlovehiscountrythebetter
　　evenforapig。’’Atamoment，’soheconcludes，’whenaGeneralInclosure
　　ofWastesisbeforeParliament，toallowsuchameasuretobecarriedinto
　　executioninconformitywiththepracticehitherto，withoutenteringone
　　voice，howeverfeeble，indefenceoftheinterestsofthepoor，wouldhave
　　beenawoundtothefeelingsofanymannotlosttohumanitywhohadviewed
　　thesceneswhichIhavevisited。’
　　Theappealbrokeagainstadensemassofclassprejudice，andsofaras
　　anyeffectontheConsolidatingActof1801isconcerned，ArthurYoungmight
　　neverhavewrittenaline。Thisisperhapsnotsurprising，forweknowfrom
　　Young’sautobiographyp。350thathedidnotevencarrytheBoardofAgriculture
　　withhim，andthatLordCarrington，whowasthenPresident，onlyallowed
　　himtoprinthisappealontheunderstandingthatitwasnotpublishedas
　　anofficialdocument，andthattheBoardwasinnowayidentifiedwithit。
　　Sinclair，whosharedYoung’sconversion，hadceasedtobePresidentin1798。
　　ThecompunctionhetriedtoawakendidaffectanActhereandthere。Awitness
　　beforetheAllotmentsCommitteeof1843describedthearrangementshecontrived
　　tointroduceintoanEnclosureAct。ThewitnesswasMr。Demainbray，anadmirable
　　andmostpublic-spiritedparson，RectorofBroadSomerfordinWiltshire。
　　Mr。DemainbrayexplainedthatwhentheEnclosureActforhisparishwasprepared
　　in1806，hehadbeenpressedtoacceptlandinlieuoftithes，andthathe
　　tooktheopportunitytostipulateforsomeprovisionforthepoor。Asaconsequence
　　ofhisefforts，halfanacrewasattachedtoeachcottageonthewaste，the
　　landbeingvestedintherector，churchwardensandoverseersforthetime
　　being，andeightacreswerereservedforthevillagersforallotmentand
　　reallotmenteveryEaster。Thisarrangement，whichhadexcellentresults，
　　’everymanlookingforwardtobecomingamanofproperty，’wascopiedin
　　severaloftheneighbouringparishes。Dr。Slaterhascollectedsomeother
　　examples。OneAct，passedin1824forPotterninWiltshire，vestedtheownership
　　oftheenclosedcommonintheBishopofSalisbury，whowaslordofthemanor，
　　thevicar，andthechurchwardens，intrustfortheparish。Thetrusteeswere
　　requiredtoleaseitinsmallholdingstopoor，honestandindustriouspersons，
　　whohadnot，exceptincasesofaccidentorsickness，availedthemselves
　　ofPoorLawRelief。16*ThomasStone’sproposalformakinginalienableallotments
　　tocottagerswasadoptedintwoorthreeActsintheeasterncounties，but
　　theActsthatmadesomeprovisionforthepoordonotamount，inDr。Slater’s
　　opinion，tomorethanonepercentoftheEnclosureActspassedbefore1845，17*
　　andthisviewiscorroboratedbythegreatstresslaidintheReportsof
　　theSocietyforBetteringtheConditionofthePoor，uponafewcaseswhere
　　thepoorwereconsidered，andbyastatementmadebyMr。Demainbrayina
　　pamphletpublishedin1831。18*InthispamphletMr。Demainbrayquoteswhat
　　Davieshadsaidnearlyfortyyearsearlierabouttheeffectofenclosures
　　inrobbingthepoor，andthenadds：’Sincethattimemanyhundredenclosures
　　havetakenplace，butinhowfewofthemhasanyreservebeenmadeforthe
　　privilegeswhichthepoormanandhisancestorshadforcenturiesenjoyed？’
　　SomeinterestingprovisionsarecontainedincertainoftheActsofthe
　　period。AtStanwellthecommissionersweretosetasidesuchparcelasthey
　　thoughtpropernotexceedingthirtyacres，tobeletoutandtherentsand
　　profitsweretobegivenforthebenefitofsuchoccupiersandinhabitants
　　asdidnotreceiveparochialrelieforoccupylandsandtenementsofmore
　　than£；5ayear，andhadnotreceivedanyallotmentundertheAct。Middleton，