The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-15 00:00:00

CONDITION OF THE DORSET

SHIRE LABOURER.

BEAMINSTER, THURSDAY.—This afternoon a nume-
rous and highly respectable meeting of the inhabitants of
Dorsetshire, was held in the parochial school-room in
this town, for the purpose "of taking into consideration
the propriety of forming a society for bettering the con-
dition of the labouring classes by the field garden allot-
ment system.
The Right Hon. Lord Stavordale took the chair ; and
amongst a large attendance of clergymen on the plat-
form, were the Revs. Messrs. Crookson, Mayers, Morris,
Worthy, Blennerhassett, Whitehead, Helyar, Lane,
Ward, and C. Fox. Several ladies were also present.
Lord STA VORDALE, on taking the chair, observed that
a circular announcing the meeting had been sent to the
gentry, the landowners, and the occupiers of land
throughout the district. Before he called upon the gen-
tlemen who had consented to take a part in the proceed-
ings of the day, he would beg to state the motives that
had induced him to I.)' present, and the limits within
which he was prepared to support such a society as they
contemplated establishing. lie was not one of those
who believed that the field garden system was a perfect
remedy for all the evils arid ills of the condition of
the labourer of this country—that it would totally
put an end to the distress to which they were some-
times liable ; but he did believe it would be an alle-
viation of that distress, and, therefore, he was prepared
to do what he could to assist in this undertaking. It
had been said that no prospect was so pleasant as that
from a man's own window over his own land. That
sentiment savoured of considerable selfishness, and he
should be sorry to inculcate it into the labourer, but in
a limited sense he was inclined to receive it. He was in-
clined to believe that no pleasure was tweeter than that
which a labourer naturally takes in the plot of land,
rented by himself and cropped by his own exertions and
those of his family.—(Cheers.) With regard to the
practical euestion—what chance they had of establishing
such a society in this district, he would observe, that in
that town the allotment system had already been estab-
lished, and he had been informed by the founder of it,
that there was an extensive competition for the land. He
had no doubt other towns were similarly circumstanced,
and, therefore, he thought there was a good opening for
their exertions. He was quite aware that the establish.
ment of a society was a matter of some difficulty and
delicacy, but he thought, with proper management and
forbearance, they might bring over those who at present
were doubtful of the success of their scheme. If the
tenants would look with favour on the scheme, and en-
deavour to unite to form a society, he did think that
they would find it of benefit to all classes.—(Cheers.)
Captain STEEL, the secretary, then, at the request of
the Chairman, read letters which he had received in
reply to circulars sent to Lord Ashley, the Lord Bishop
of Salisbury, the High Sheriff of the county, Mr. N. B.
Cochrane, M.P. for Bridport, Sir Dudley Hill, Captain
Scobell, the Rev. John Mules, Rev. J. P. Johnson, Rev.
Mr. Haskell, and Dr. B. Wills, M.D., of Brixton. The
most important parts of these communications we
subjoin:—
(Front Lord Ashley.)
" Hyde, August 28.
" Sir,—lt would give me much pleasure to assist the
projected association for the benefit of the labouring
classes in Dorset, by every means in my power. I shall
be happy, if I can thus render any service, to become
one of the patrons.—Your very obedient servant,
ASHLEY."
(From the Lord Bishop of the diocese.)
" S aranal.Te, August 29.
" Sir,—l am very sorry that it will not be in my
power to be present at the meeting; but if the associa-
tion be formed for the purpose of promoting the object
referred to in your letter, I shall be happy to become a
member of it, in such capacity as the Committee may
desire. I have been able to do something in the fur-
therance of the field garden system in the parish of
Chardstock, where I have set apart twelve acres of land,
under the management of the clergyman of the parish,
to be occupied in this manner. It appears to be the
surest mode in which a certain amount of good can be
done to the poor of our agricultural parishes.
" I am, Sir, your very faithful servant,
"E. SARUM."
The High Sheriff; in his letter, stated that he " had
long had allotments on his estate, and under his rules
they had been found to answer well, Our limitation
has been quarter acres, except where the families have
been large, when half an acre has not been found too
much."
Mr. Cochrane stated that. " in my parishes, in Scot-
land, I have always found the system adopted with the
happiest results."
Captain Scobell (who has had extensive experience of
the system) supplied the following suggestions, which
he recommended as rules for the contemplated society:—
"1. That there must be no favourites among the
tenants ; neither exclusion in the onset from previous
misdeeds. This is not only a preserving, but a reclaim-
ing system.
" 2. The tenants should be (except in cases of sick-
ness or accident) selt-maintaining labourers and jour-
neymen mechanics—no higher grades, or permanent
paupers.
"3. The land should be of good average quality.
They can uphold it. Its situation should be convenient.
"-t. The sias of the respective field-gardens ought to
be from 20 to 40 poles, enough to grow for home con-
sumption, but not enough to make them salesmen.
" 5. Above all, the rent should not be more nor less
than the proportionate charge to the farmer for similar
land. If it is more, the motive will be suspected ;if less,
it will look like charity, and seem to want permanency.
" 6. Let the rules for occupation be few and simple ;
easy to be understood, and not likely to be questionable
in performance. A tenant should never be displaced but
for a proved breach of one of these rules.
"7. A portion should be planted (and from the potato
failure a large portion) with vegetables, not potatoes."
Colonel BRAGGE then rose to move the first resolution.
Having briefly expressed the pleasure he felt at seeing
the excellent young nobleman in the chair, supporting
the measures of another Noble Lord (he meant Lord
Ashley) he moved—
" That practical experience, both in the neighbouring
county and elsewhere, has shown that field-garden allot-
ments have been the means of administering to the com-
forts of the labourer and of reclaiming him from idle
and dissolute habits."

The Rev. J. F. WITITTY, in seconding this, contended
that the system realised both the objects stated. That
an increase of comfort was needed by the labourer no
one there he should think would doubt or question. It
is well known that there was in many parishes great
destitution, and in seasons of great trial the afflictions
of the poor would be enough to make those surrounded
with the comforts of life shudder at the extent of them.
The Rev. Gentleman bore testimony to the good effects
of the system in the county of Suffolk, where he had
seen it carried out by Sir Edward Kerrison, and where
many poachers had been reclaimed by its influence.
Mr. BANDINEL proposed the second resolution. He
said he thought it was their duty and their interest to do
all they could fur those whom God had been pleased to
place beneath them, but upon whom he looked with an
equal eye—(Cheers)—but that that object was carried out
better by the landlord and the farmer than by any one
else they had ample experience.
The Rev. Mr. WARD, of Compton Vallance, seconded
the resolution in a long and able speech. He said he was
not s. very proper person to address them on the subject
of allotments, because about two years ago he gave a por-
tion of his glebe land as allotments, and this year it had
been returned on his hands ; but this he must add, that
his parishioners were blessed with a landlord who was a
father to them, and a tenant who was a very good mas-
ter. Were that the case throughout the country, there
would be no need of such associations as this. In a
. .

neighbouring parish, however, he had been struck
with the difference in appearance produced by the
introduction of the system, and, as a further proof', he
might mention that in the neighbourhood of Naples—
the plain of Sorrento—he found 35,000 people living in
comfort and comparative affluence upon a piece of land
four miles long by two broad, There were no poor
' laws, and there were no beggars, which in Italy was a
remarkable thing. Every one had a fair day's wages
for a fair day's work. The country was principally cul-
tivated by the spade, and the product was so enormous
that every creature found a comfortable suhsistence.
How happened it that within these British dominions,
the richest in the world, there were large numbers of
the population more miserable than any population in
the world ? How came it that the peasantry of Eng-
land were the worst educated of any in Europe ? He
did not speak of that county in particular ; yet still there
was distress enough in some parishes to warrant them in
calling for the formation of a Dorset Labourers' Society.
Such society was not needed on estates where they had
paternal landlords ; but it was needed where the land
was in the hands of persons of small property, as he
knew a large portion of the west of Dorset was. But,
atter all, it was to the landlords of England that they
must look in that emergency.—(Cheers.) If—ho might
say it fearlessly in that county—if the landlords of
England would but do their duty, every one else
would do theirs.—(Cheers.) He believed that an enor-
mous responsibility in the sight of God rested upon them.
Let them not look to what was wanted in the large ma-
nufacturing towns—let them look at home. The land-
lords had no right to expect those under them to take
their places in tending to the wants and comforts of
those who were their especial care—the poor.—(Cheers.)
But when he affirmed it to be the duty of the landlord
to have the tenantry on his estate under his peculiar
care, not only those in his own pet cottages, but those
in the most remote corner of his estate—when he said
that he would not debar the tenant from his privilege,
for surely it must be to him a great happiness to ride
over his farm and find his labourers glad to see him, in-
stead of saying, " Here comes master," and hiding
themselves.—(Loud cheers.) But when he thought of
their own responsibilities and duties he confessed he
felt at a loss for words to express his feelings. It had
been asked how could the clergy interfere ? His answer
was, from first to last the clergy had the education of
England's best hope—the young heirs of her fair broad
lands—and a word spoken by them had had immense
effect. He did believe that if the clergy would do their

duty, England would be in a very different state. If
landlord, tenant, and clergy would d 9 their duty, then

would they indeed see increased domestic comfort in
their peasantry—then indeed would industrious habits
be encouraged, and our Queen would reign (to use the
words of King George the Good) in the hearts of a
loyal and religious people.—(Loud cheers.)
Mr. GILBERT proposed the third resolution, which the
Rev. Mr. LANE supported.
The fourth resolution, forming the society, was pro-
posed by Mr. J. Gundry, a large manufacturer of Brid-
port, and seconded by Mr. Gilbert. It was determined
that the Lords Ilchester, Portarlington, Bridport, Ash-
ley, Rivers, and the Lord Bishop of Salisbury, should
be patrons ; the Lord Stavordale, president • and the
' Hon. and Rev. Somerville Hay, the '
lion. and Rev. W.
Scott, the High Sheriff of the county, the Members for
the county, the Members for Bridport and Lyme, Sir J.
B. Smith, Mr. H. C. Compton, M.P., and Mr. B. B.
Sheridan, M.P., vice-presidents.
Mr. SPARKS (and the Rev. W. B. Whitehead, vicar of
Chard) then, at the request of the Chairman, detailed
the progress of the society with which they were con-
nected—the. Crewkerne, Chard, and Ilminster Field-
Garden Allotment and Labourers' Friend Society, which
had been in existence fourteen years, and now comprised
thirty parishes, and more than 800 allotments. The
Rev. Gentleman expatiated on its good effects at consi-
derable length, and commended it for saving the la
bourers from the demoralising, detested, and degrading
influences of the union workhouse. It also, by amelio-
rating their moral condition, elevated them morally and
religiously, for the Bible was a plant which would never
flourish well amidst scenes of destitution and pauperism.
He advocated, with it, clothing clubs, loan funds, savings'
banks, and parochial schools. He was not foolish enough
to suppose that they could ever attain an Arcadia.
Vain were the search for scenes like these :

No view appears,
" By sighs unruffled, or unstained by tears."
But let them remember that though the poor were " not
to cease out of the land," it was in their power to remove
the sting from poverty.—(Loud cheering.) The Rev.
Gentleman, in conclusion, congratulated the county o❑
having, by such a meeting, given so noble a refutation to
their heartless traducers.

Captain STEEL said, he would not call in question
whit had been said, nor would be justify what had been
written of the county ; but he wished to remark that
this meeting had not been called forth either by the re-
port of the Committee of the Commons on field-garden
allotments, or by the animadversions of the press. The
committee, at their first meeting, were deeply impressed
with the necessity for such a society. He could also as-
sure them that the gentleman who appeared there as an
emissary of the parent society, had as little to do with
any of those animadversions as he had.

The resolutions having all been carried nem. con.,
Mr. J. POPE, tenant farmer, proposed a vote of thanks
to the Noble President ; and, in reference to an obser-
vation respecting Mr. Sheridan, observed—Let the Hon.
Gentleman exercise the same discretion in carrying out
his benevolent intentions as the Nuble Lord, and he shall
have as hearty a welcome.
Lord STAVORDALE returned thanks, and observed that
he firmly believed that Mr. Sheridan's moti,'es had been
misconstrued.
The meeting then separated.