  | PART I. | | LIFE OF THE ARISTOCRACY. | | CHAPTER I. | | Page | | Pre-eminence of England as a Place of Country Residence—Its Political and Moral Position—the Conveniences conferred by the Perfection of the Arts on Social Life—Its Literature, Spirit of Freedom, Religious Feeling, and Philanthropic Institutions—the Delightfulness of its Country Residences; with its Parks, Lawns, Woods, Gardens, etc.—the Variety of Scenery in a small compass—Advantages of its Climate, notwithstanding all just cause of complaint—Its Soil sanctified by Noble Deeds, and Intellectual Renown—Real Superiority of England as a Place of Residence; shewn by its Effects on Foreigners—Willis’s Description of its Effect on him | 1 | | CHAPTER II. | | Enviable Position of the English Country Gentleman as regards all the Pleasures and Advantages of Life—every Art and Energy exerted in his Favour—by them his House surrounded with Delights—the News and the Luxuries of the World brought to his Table—Books, Music, Paintings at his command—Farming, Gardening, Planting, Field-sports all within his grasp—Scenes which offer themselves to extend his Pleasures—the Service of his Country open to him—Facilities for Travel—Pursuits and Pleasures afforded by Country Life to Ladies | 10 | | CHAPTER III. | | Life of the Gentry in the Country—Effect of the Annual Visit of the Aristocracy to Town—Pleasure of re-assembling at their Country Houses—Impressions of our Country Houses and Country Life on Foreigners—the German Prince’s Description of the Dairy at Woburn Abbey—Willis’s Description of the Mode of Life at Gordon Castle—The peculiar Charms of this kind of Life | 18 | | CHAPTER IV. | | Routine of Country Sports—Hunting, Shooting, Coursing, pursued in a different Style to that of our Ancestors—each its own Season, Apparatus, and Appointments—English Sportsmen communicate their Knowledge through the Press—the Extinction of Falconry—the Perfection of Fox-hunting in this Country—Manner in which some Old Sportsmen amuse themselves during the Summer—Favour into which Angling has risen of late years—our Tourist-Anglers—Grouse-Shooting: its exciting Nature—Symptoms of the approach of 12th of August in England, the same as exhibited in Scotland—Sportsmen on their way to the Highlands by the Packet—the Contrast between them and Pedestrianizing Students—Tom Oakleigh’s Description of the Commencement of Grouse-Shooting on the Moors—other Features of it, both there and in Scotland—Return from Partridge-Shooting—a Word with the Too-Sensitive | 29 | | CHAPTER V. | | Scientific Farming: Its State, Implements, and Admirers, Ancient and Modern—Agricultural Pursuits delighted in by the greatest Men of all Ages—Attachment of the Roman Nobility to them—Cicero’s enthusiastic Encomiums on Country Affairs—Farming now practised as a Science—Vast Improvements during the last Century—Multiplicity of its Modern Implements—Benefits derived from Chemistry and Mechanics—Progressive Improvements in Tillage, Breed of Cattle, Wool, Machinery, etc. by Tull, Menzies, Bakewell, Lord Somerville, Coke, Duke of Bedford, the Culleys, etc.—by Periodicals and Associations—Men to whom Agricultural Interests are peculiarly Indebted—Characters of the Duke of Buccleugh and Lord Somerville, by Sir Walter Scott—Anecdote of the Duke of Portland | 49 | | CHAPTER VI. | | Planting: Its Pleasures—Vast Effect of the Writings of Evelyn in England, and Dr. Johnson in Scotland—Evidences of the Growth of the Planting Spirit in all Parts of the Kingdom—Wordsworth’s Complaint of the Larch in the Lake Country—Larch Plantations of the Duke of Athol—His calculated Profits—Monteith of Stirling’s Calculations of the Profits of 100 Acres of Oak Planting in seventy years—Anecdote of an extensive Planter | 59 | | CHAPTER VII. | | Gardens—Pleasures of them—Retrospective View of English Gardens—Influence of our Imaginative Writers on their Character—Writers before the Reign of Elizabeth—the Roman Style of Gardens under the name of Italian, French and Dutch Gardens, prevalent till the 18th Century, overturned by the Writings of Addison, Pope, and Walpole, and by the Works of Bridgman, Kent, and Brown—Gardens of Hampton Court, Nonsuch, Theobalds, etc., as described by Hentzner in 1598—the Old Style of Gardens appropriate to the Old Houses and the Character of the Times—Advantages of the Prevalence of different Tastes at different Periods pointed out—Laborious Lives and Travels of our earlier Gardeners and Botanists—our Old Gardens interesting objects in different parts of the Kingdom—their Classical Antiquity pleaded in their favour | 67 | | CHAPTER VIII. | | Country Excitements—Diminution of the Enjoyment of Country Life by Petty Rivalries and Jealousies; and by the Neglect of Walking—Racing a great cause of excitement to the Gentry in the Country—the Present State of the Turf, as shewn by Nimrod—Variety afforded by Race and Country Balls, Musical Festivals, etc.—Confirmation—Parade of Assize Time—the Sheriff’s Pageant | 77 |
| | PART II. | | LIFE OF THE AGRICULTURAL POPULATION. | | CHAPTER I. | | The English Farmer: his Character, and Mode of Life—Picture of the approach to a Market-Town on a Market-Day—Farmers going in and coming out—Contrast between the Space occupied by the Concerns of the Farmer and the City Trader—Enviable Aspect of the Farmer’s Abode—his Life and Soul in his Profession—his Conversation—a great Charm in Nature working with him—Delight which Poets and Great Men have found in Farming—the Intellectual Grade of the Farmer—Pressing Hospitalities of Farmers and their Wives—a Sketch of one Day’s Feasting at a Farm-House—Dinner, and its chaos of Good Things—Tea, and the arrival of Fresh Guests—who they are—Traits of Character both of Men and Women of this Class—the Dance, and the Departure | 87 | | CHAPTER II. | | The English Farmer as operated upon by Modern Circumstances—Complaint of Cobbett that the Farmer is spoiled by Modern Refinement—In what Degree this is true—Men of all Rank
t">PART VI. | | HABITS, AMUSEMENTS, AND CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE. | | CHAPTER I. | | Cottage Life—Wide Space between the Life of the Hall and that of the Cottage—the Routine of the Labourer’s Life—a Blow aimed at his Domestic Security—a Highland Hut—a Night passed in one—Abodes of Poverty called Rookeries—the Beauty of English Cottages in some Parts of England—a Thought on seeing such by Professor Wilson—Delightfulness of some of the Cottages of the Wealthy and Refined | 402 | | CHAPTER II. | | Popular Festivals and Festivities—Sketch of their History—of Catholic Origin—The great Change in the Public Taste regarding them traced to the Reformation—Subsequent co-operating Causes pointed out—the Intellectual Character of the Popular Taste still Progressive | 414 | | CHAPTER III. | | May-Day Festivities—Formerly celebrated with more Gaiety than any others—Came down from Pagan Antiquity in all their Arcadian Beauty—It was the Festival of the Poets—None now more entirely obsolete—Washington Irving’s Delight at seeing Plough-bullocks and May-poles in the Neighbourhood of Newstead—great Decline of these things during the last Thirty Years even there—a few May-poles still to be found in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire—May-dances quite gone by—May day celebrated with enthusiasm by the Poets—European Observance of May derived from the Roman Festival of Flora—Saxon Customs of this period of the year—Druid Customs—Blowing of Horns at Oxford and other places—Custom mentioned by Erasmus, of placing a Deer’s Horns on St. Paul’s Altar—Custom of the Hindus—Beltane in Ireland and Scotland—May-feast of Northumberland—Fishing for the Wedding-ring—Roman Feast of Flora imitated in France and England—Various Additions here of Robin Hood, Maid Marian, Friar Tuck, etc.—Spenser and Herrick’s description of May-day Festivities—Henry VIII., Elizabeth, and James I.’s going a-Maying—Sheriffs and Aldermen of London going a-Maying—Congratulated by Lydgate the Poet—In 1644, all May-poles pulled down—In 1654 Maying again, in presence of the Lord Protector—Great May-pole in the Strand raised again at the Restoration—Aubrey’s Account of the May-booms in Holland—Complaints of Aubrey and Evelyn of Injury done to the Woods by Mayers—May Customs that yet remain | 421 | | CHAPTER IV. | | Easter Festivities—May the Festival of the Young, Easter that of the Church—Celebration of Easter in Catholic Countries—Royal Distribution of Alms on Maunday Thursday at Whitehall, still kept up—Easter at Moscow, Jerusalem, Rome, and other Places—Eating Hot-cross buns, and going to Church the sole remaining Ceremonies in England—Easter Morning as described by Goethe—Strange Plays acted in Churches by the Monks at Easter—Churchwardens’ Accounts at Reading for such Expenses—Paschal Lights—Lighting the Annual Fire at the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem—Easter Customs in various Countries—Paschal Eggs—Peculiar Privileges attached to their Presentation in Russia—Courts shut, and Business suspended formerly in London—Still a Time of great Recreation to Mechanics there—Less observed in Country Towns—Pace-eggs still given in some Countries—Heaving, or Lifting—Ball Play | 432 | | CHAPTER V. | | Whitsuntide Festivities—Sole Religious Festival that continues a Popular one—this partly owing to Friendly Societies—Joyous Aspect of this Village Fete—Whitsuntide Village Processions as seen by the Author in his Youth—fine Subject for a Painter—these Love-Feasts of the People very appropriate to this Period, being that of the Agapai, or Love-Feasts of the early Christians—Objections to their being held at Public Houses—this remediable—Whitsuntide as witnessed at Warsop in Nottinghamshire—Concluding Remarks | 444 | | CHAPTER VI. | | Christmas Festivities—the Festival of the Fireside—Its Ancient Usages made familiar by our Popular Writers—Burton’s Account of Christmas Games—Withers’ Poetical Description of Christmas 200 years ago—Scott’s View of them as seen in the past—Pageants at this Season in Catholic Countries, as at Rome, Naples, and in Spain—Interesting Domestic Custom in Germany—Christmas as now passed by the Poor, and by the Middle and Higher Classes—the Waits—Christmas Visiting and Country Games—Christmas Carols, as sung about Manchester, collected by the late Miss Jewsbury—Christmas Customs still kept up—George and the Dragon—Blessing Orchards, etc.—Concluding Remarks on the Present State of Popular Festivals | 451 | | CHAPTER VII. | | The Fairy Superstitions—Fairies all vanished from the Country—gone in Chaucer’s Days—Bishop Corbett’s Farewell to them—Hogg their last Poet—Fairies of Caldon-Low—Made Immortal by Milton and Shakspeare—Belief of them yet lingering in Wales—Robin Goodfellow and the Lubberfiend of Milton thrown out of employ by the Thrashing Machine—Fairie’s-Waterfall at Aberpergum—Morgan Lewis the Neath Guide’s Account of their positive Departure | 473 | | CHAPTER VIII. | | The Village Inn—the Old-fashioned Village Inn a very different place to the New Beer-Shop—its General Aspect—its Old Tree—Remarkable Tree of this kind at the Golden Grove, near Chertsey—the Country Inn Kitchen—Description of Landlords by which such Inns are kept—their Cleanness and Rural Plenty—Patronized by all Classes, from the Squire downwards—Humorous Characters often found there—Curious Scene once witnessed by the Author at a Country Inn in Yorkshire—The New Beer-Shops a universal Nuisance | 480 | | CHAPTER IX. | | Popular Places of Resort—Wakes, Statutes, and Fairs—the Wake, the Feast of the Dedication of the Parish Church, now dwindled into a Village Holiday—Anticipation of it by the Rural People—Wake Festivities—the Wake, in some places yet connected with Church-rites.—Statutes: Meetings by Legal Statute for the Hiring of Servants—Attendance of Farmers, their Wives, and Men and Women Servants—their Appearance—Shepherds, Ploughmen, Milkmaids, and their Insignia—Earnest-Money—Afternoon Jollification—in the Northern Counties the Bondage Girls hired at similar Meetings—Fairs: Places of both Business and Pleasure to all Classes of Country People—Nottingham Great October and Goose Fair taken as a specimen—Preparations for its Atte
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