The Sun.
London, England, 1826-05-02 00:00:00

FURL IGN CORN.

Mr. JACOB'S RET ORT on the TRAtIg in CORN, and cn
the AGRICULTURE of the NORTH of EU.LOPE.

For the last three days this Article has been erroneously headed
as the Instructions to, instead of the Report from, Mr.
JACOB.

[Continued fiom our paper of yesterday.]

There are besides these, numerous small properties, some
of ifew acres, which by frequent subdivisions, have descend-
ed to younger branches of noble families. The present own-
ers are commonly poor, but too proud to follow any profes-
sion but that of a soldier, and prefer to labour in the fields with
their own hands rather than to engage in trade of any kind. As
titles descended to every son, and are continued through all the
successors, the nobility have naturally become very numerous.;
but since the Emperor of Russia has gained the dbminion dyer
Poland, the use of titles has been restricted. No.one can assume
that of Baron, unless his clear income from his estates exceed
1,000 gulden, or 25!. ; none that of Count, whose rents are less
than 3,000 gulden, or 75!. ; and none that of Prince, who hi.s
less than 5,000 gulden, or 125/.
The whole of the lands are made alienable and may now be pur-
chased by persons of any rank, and are actually held by some
who are burghers or peasants; the • jews alone are prohibited
from becoming proprietors of the soil, though they have very nu-
merous mortgages upon it. When they foreclose, the lands
must consequently be sold ; and as these Jews, the monied ca-
pitalists, cannot become purchasers, the prices they yield are very
trifling,
The most numerous class of cultivators are peasants ; the}•
have a limited property in the lands which they occupy, and
the cottages in which they live, under the condition of work-
ing a stipulated number of days in each week on their Lord's
demesne, and paying specified quantities of produce, such as
poultry, eggs, yarn, and other things, in conformity with ancient
usage.

The extent of these holdings ♦ary, according to the quality of
theland, and the quantity of duirwork, or of payments in kind
which are to be fulfilled,

On a large property which I examined, the peasants had about
48 acres of land each, for which they were bOund to work for
two days in every week with two oxen. If their labour was
farther required, they were paid three-pence per day for two other
days ; and if beyond that number, sixpence per day. On another
property, I found the peasants had about 36 acres, for which they
worked two days in each week, with two oxen ; when called up-
on for extra labour, they are paid sixpence a day for themselves
and oxen for the next two days, or if they work without their
oxen, 3d.

If their labour is demanded the remaining two days in the
week, the sum tb he paid is made the subject of a special agree-
ment ; on one estate the peasants had but 24 acres, and did but
one day's work themselves, with one horse ; the rest of their la-
bour was paid for in money, by agreement made at the time it
was required. Another proprietor, on land somewhat exhaust.d,
'granted to each of his peasants more titan 50 acres of land, for
which they worked with two horses three days in a week. It
would be easy to give instances of more • various rates of duty
work, and of the quantity of land which is appropriated for its
performance. Some are of a luxurious mid of a ludicrous ki id.
T was told that the inhabitants of two 'whole villages, near a
princely domain, hold their lands on condition- of employing a
certain number of days in each week, in cleaning the walks, and
keeping in good order the pleasure grounds, Which surround the
vast castle of their benevolent and hospitable lord.
In general, this peasantry is in a condition of great distress,
and involved in debt to their lord. They are no longer slaves,
or adstricti gleihr. By the constitution promulgated in 1791,
they were declared free, and that part 'of the constitution suf-
fered no alteration under the dominion of the Russians and Prus-
sians ; was confirmed When the King4if Saxony became So-
vereign ; and was again assured in 1815, when the Emperor of
Bosnia was enthroned as King of Poland.
The practical effects of the privileges, thus granted, have hi-
therto been very inconsiderable. The peasants can leave their
land, but must first acquit the pecuniary demands of their lords.
Few are able to do this, as .most of them are in arrears. The
lords must supply. them with their oxen, in case one dies ; their
plough and other implements must be furnished to them by him;
and 'in years of scarcity they become involved in debt, for the re-
quisite subsistence of themselves and their cattle. This, together
superior, has
t
local attachments, and the habit of respect for their feudal
general prevented the peasants front wandering
away from the houses of their fathers, and from the protection
of their chief. It thus rarely happens that the peasants quit the
esttes on which they have been born; and the instances that do
occur,
are chiefly to be attributed to the embarrassed circum-
stances into which their lord may fall. A declining property
produces a necessitous peasantry, end such may soinetimes be in-
duced to try their fortune under another proprietor.
A gentleman with whom I formed an acquaintance, had becu
compelled to take an estate which was mortgaged to him.. He
found no peasants on it ; the hoed was neglected, and the build-
ings dilapidated. As no tenant would talce it at any rent, he
was under the necessity of farming it, To induce peasants to
come to him, he granted them a larger portion of laud than was
customary on that quality of soil, built them houses, supplie I
them with oxen and implements. sowed the corn of the•first year,
and fed them till it was fit to be converted into food. By these
means, though he was enabled to get his labour performed, yet he
assured me it was by persons of the least skill, industry, and so-
briety.
The want of peasantry is a general subject of complaint, espe-
cially
es aarmeolnode
gatir se (Who are the far greater number) whose
with mortgages or other incumbrances such
sometimes lose them, but cannot command the means of inducing
new ones to settle on the lands.
Though no longer slaves, the condition of the peasants is but
little practically improved by the change that has been made in
their condition. When a transfer is made, either by testament
or conveyance, the persons of the peasantry are not indeed ex-
pressly conveyed, but their services are, and in many instances are
the most valuable part of the property.
It is said, that when the freedom of the peasants was fret de -
creed, it was viewed by them with great distrust. They were
alarmed with the apprehension, that in age or sickness, or other
incapacity, they should be abandoned by their lords, and left to
perish in want; by the form that society has taken in the course
of the 34 years that have passed since the alteration was enacted,
their alarms have been dispelled; and the same acts of kindness
being exercised in most cases as were formerly customary, they
can perceive no alteration in their condition that is either mate-
rially more beneficial or injurious to them.
These people live in wooden huts, coffered with thatch or shingles,
consisting of one room with a stove, around which the inhabitants
and their cattle crowd together, and where the most disgusting
kinds of Mines" are to be seen. Their common food is, cabbage,
potatoes sometimes, but not generally, pease, black. bread, and
soup, or rather gruel, without the addition of butter or meat.
Their chief drink is water, or the cheap whaiskndeyisofdtranhe
keowunhtz,
which is the only luxury of the peasants
ever they can obtain it, in enormous quantities. They use much
and in spite of • the heavy tax on
salt with their vegetable food,
that commodity, can never dispense with the want of it at their
meals. I was informed, and saw reason to credit the accounts,
that when the peasants brought to the market-towns their trifling
quantities of produce, a part of the money was first
intoxication
dto pur-
chase salt, and the rest spent in whiskey, in a state ofhadre-
stored
that commonly endured till the exhaustion of the p
them to sobriety. In their houses they have little that
merits the name of furniture; and their clothing is coarse, ragged,
and filthy, even to disgust.
Very little attention has been paid to their education, and they
are generally ignorant, superstitions, and fanatical. They ob-
serve about 20 holidays in the year, besides the Sundays; and
pass much of their time in pilgrimage* to softie favourite shrine,
in counting beads, and similar superstitious occupations.
This representation of the condition and character of the pea-
santry, though general, cannot be considered so universal as to
adtnit of no exceptions; some rare instances of perseverance in
economy, industry, and temperance are to be found, anti unfa-
vourable as their circumstances may be for the creation of such
habits, they are here attended by the newel correspondent results.
.Some few peasants have been enabled to gain three or four allot-
ments!, and to employ their sons or hired servants to work for
them; and there are instances of such persons making a still