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　　SeeforthissubjectCambridgeModernHistory，vol。viii，chap。

　　andP。Sagnac，LaL&eacute；gislationCivilsdelaR&eacute；volution

　　Fran&ccedil；aise。

　　Jackson’sOxfordJournal，September11，1830，saidthatasingle

　　cottagersometimesclearedasmuchas&#163；20ayearbygeese。

　　OxfordUniversityandCityHerald，September25，1830。

　　HouseofCommonsJournal，February17，1815。

　　AlexanderCroke1758-1842，knightedin1816，wasfrom1801-1815

　　judgeintheVice-AdmiraltyCourt，NovaScotia。Asalawyer，hecoulddefend

　　hisowninterest。

　　Dunkin’sOxfordshire，vol。i，pp。122-3。

　　Jackson’sOxfordJournal，September18，1830。

　　Ibid。，32。Ibid。，September18。

　　SeeJackson’sOxfordJournal，andOxfordUniversityand

　　CityHerald，forSeptember11，1830，andalsoAnnualRegister，

　　1830，Chron。p。142，andHomeOfficePapers，forwhatfollows。

　　OxfordUniversityandCityHerald，September11，1830。

　　Jackson’sOxfordJournal，March5，1831。

　　ChapterFourTheVillageAfterEnclosureThegoverningclasscontinueditspolicyofextinguishingtheoldvillage

　　lifeandalltherelationshipsandinterestsattachedtoit，withunsparing

　　andunhesitatinghand；andasitspolicyprogressedthereweredisplayed

　　alltheconsequencespredictedbyitscritics。Agriculturewasrevolutionised：

　　rentsleaptup：Englandseemedtobetriumphingoverthedifficultiesof

　　awarwithhalftheworld。Butithadonegreatpermanentresultwhichthe

　　rulersofEnglandignored。Theanchorageofthepoorwasgone。

　　Forenclosurewasfataltothreeclasses：thesmallfarmer，thecottager，

　　andthesquatter。Toalloftheseclassestheircommonrightswereworth

　　morethananythingtheyreceivedinreturn。Theirpositionwasjusttheopposite

　　ofthatofthelordofthemanor。Thelordofthemanorwasgivenacertain

　　quantityoflandtheconventionalproportionwasone-sixteenth1*inlieu

　　ofhissurfacerights，andthatcompactallotmentwasinfinitelymorevaluable

　　thantherightssocompensated。Similarlythetithe-ownerstoodtogainwith

　　theincreasedrent。Thelargefarmer’sinterestswerealsoinenclosure，

　　whichgavehimawiderfieldforhiscapitalandenterprise。Theotherclasses

　　stoodtolose。

　　Forevenifthesmallfarmerreceivedstrictjusticeinthedivisionof

　　thecommonfields，hisshareinthelegalcostsandtheadditionalexpense

　　offencinghisownallotmentsoftenoverwhelmedhim，andhewasobligedto

　　sellhisproperty。2*Theexpenseswerealwaysveryheavy，andinsomecases

　　amountedto&#163；5anacre。3*Thelordofthemanorandthetithe-owner

　　couldaffordtobeartheirshare，becausetheywereenrichedbyenclosure：

　　theclassesthatwereimpoverishedbyenclosurewereruinedwhentheyhad

　　topayfortheveryproceedingthathadmadethemthepoorer。Thepromoter

　　oftheGeneralEnclosureBillof1796，itwillberemembered，hadproposed

　　toexemptthepoorfromtheexpenseoffencing，buttheSelectCommittee

　　disapproved，andtheonlypersonsexemptedintheeaseswehaveexamined

　　werethelordsofthemanorortithe-owners。

　　Iftheseexpensesstillleftthesmallfarmeronhisfeet，hefoundhimself

　　deprivedoftheuseofthefallowandstubblepasture，whichhadbeenalmost

　　asindispensabletohimasthelandhecultivated。’Stripthesmallfarms

　　ofthebenefitofthecommons，’saidoneobserver，’andtheyareallatone

　　strokelevelledtotheground。’4*ItwasacommonclauseinEnclosureActs

　　thatnosheepweretobedepasturedonallotmentsforsevenyears。5*The

　　smallfarmereitheremigratedtoAmericaortoanindustrialtown，orbecame

　　adaylabourer。Hisfateinthelastresortmayperhapsbefrustratedby

　　theaccountgivenbythehistorianofOxfordshireoftheenclosureofMerton。

　　’Aboutthemiddleoflastcenturyaveryconsiderablealterationwasproduced

　　intherelativesituationofdifferentclassesinthevillage。TheActof

　　Parliamentfortheinclosureofthefieldshavingannulledallleases，and

　　theinclosureitselffacilitatedtheplanofthrowingseveralsmallfarms

　　intoafewlargebargains，6*theholdersofthefarmswhohadheretofore

　　livedincomparativeplenty，becamesuddenlyreducedtothesituationof

　　labourers，andinafewyearswerenecessitatedtothrowthemselvesandtheir

　　familiesupontheparish。Theovergrownfarmerswhohadfatteneduponthis

　　alteration，feelingthepressureofthenewburden，determinedifpossible

　　tofreethemselves：theyaccordinglydecideduponreducingtheallowance

　　ofthesepoortothelowestratio，7*andresolvedtohavenomoreservants

　　sothattheirparishionersmightexperiencenofurtherincreasefromthat

　　source。Inafewyearsthenumbersofthepoorrapidlydeclined：themore

　　agedsankintotheirgraves，andtheyouth，warnedbytheirparents’sufferings，

　　soughtasettlementelsewhere。Thefarmers，rejoicinginthesuccessoftheir

　　scheme，procuredthedemolitionofthecottages，andthusendeavouredto

　　securethemselvesandtheirsuccessorsfromthefutureexpensesofsupporting

　　anincreasedpopulation，sothatin1821theparishnumberedonlythirty

　　housesinhabitedbythirty-fourfamilies。’8*Anotherwritergaveanaccount

　　oftheresultsofaNorfolkenclosure。’Inpassingthroughavillagenear

　　Swaffham，intheCountyofNorfolkafewyearsago，tomygreatmortification

　　Ibeheldthehousestumblingintoruins，andthecommonfieldsallenclosed；

　　uponenquiringintothecauseofthismelancholyalteration，Iwasinformed

　　thatagentlemanofLynnhadboughtthattownshipandthenextadjoining

　　toit：thathehadthrowntheoneintothree，andtheotherintofourfarms；

　　whichbeforetheenclosurewereinabouttwentyfarms：anduponmyfurther

　　enquiringwhatwasbecomingofthefarmerswhowereturnedout，theanswer

　　wasthatsomeofthemweredeadandtherestwerebecomelabourers。’9*

　　Theeffectonthecottagercanbestbedescribedbysayingthatbefore

　　enclosurethecottagerwasalabourerwithland，afterenclosurehewasa

　　labourerwithoutland。Theeconomicbasisofhisindependencewasdestroyed。

　　inthefirstplace，helostagreatmanyrightsforwhichhereceivedno

　　compensation。Therewere，forinstance，thecasesmentionedbyMr。Henry

　　Homer1719-1791，RectorofBirdingburyandChaplaintoLordLeigh，inthe

　　pamphlethepublishedin1769，10*wherethecottagerslosttheprivileges

　　ofcuttingfurzeandturfonthecommonland，theproprietorcontendingthat

　　theyhadnorighttotheseprivileges，butonlyenjoyedthembyhisindulgence。

　　Ineveryothercase，Mr。Homerurged，uninterrupted，immemorialusagegives

　　alegalsanctioneventoencroachments。’Whyshouldthepoor，aspoor，be

　　excludedfromthebenefitofthisgeneralindulgence；orwhyshouldanyset

　　ofproprietorsavailthemselvesoftheinabilityofthepoortocontendwith

　　them，togetpossessionofmorethantheyenjoyed？’11*

　　Anotherrightthatwasoftenlostwastheprescriptiverightofkeeping

　　acow。TheGeneralReportonEnclosuresp。12recordstheresults

　　ofacarefulinquirymadeinajourneyof1600miles，whichshowedthatbefore

　　enclosurecottagersoftenkeptcowswithoutalegalright，andthatnothing

　　wasgiventhemforthepractice。Othercottagerskeptcowsbyrightofhiring

　　theircottagesandcommonrights，andonenclosurethelandwasthrowninto

　　afarm，andthecottagerhadtosellhiscow。TwoexamplestakenfromtheBedfordshireReportillustratetheconsequencesofenclosuretothe

　　smallman。OneisfromMaulden：12*’Thecommonwasveryextensive。Iconversed

　　withafarmer，andseveralcottagers。Oneofthemsaid，enclosingwouldruin

　　England；itwasworsethantenwars。Why，myfriend，whathaveyoulostby

　　it？Ikeptfourcowsbeforetheparishwasenclosed，andnowIdon’tkeep

　　somuchasagoose；andyouaskmewhatIlosebyit！’13*Theotheris

　　fromSandy；14*’Thisparishwasverypeculiarlycircumstanced；itabounds

　　withgardeners，manycultivatingtheirlittlefreeholds，sothatontheenclosure，

　　therewerefoundtobesixty-threeproprietors，thoughnine-tenths，perhaps，

　　ofthewholebelongedtoSirP。MonouxandMr。Pym。Thesemenkeptcowson

　　theboggycommon，andcutfernforlitteronthewarren，bywhichmeansthey

　　wereenabledtoraisemanurefortheirgardens，besidesfuelinplenty；the

　　smallallotmentofanacreandahalf，howevergoodtheland，hasbeenno

　　compensationforwhattheyweredeprivedof。Theycomplainheavily，andknow

　　nothowtheywillnowmanagetoraisemanure。Thiswasnoreasontopreserve

　　thedesertsintheiroldstate，butanampleoneforgivingafullcompensation。’

　　LordWinchilseastatedinhislettertotheBoardofAgriculturein1796：

　　’WhoevertravelsthroughtheMidlandCountiesandwilltakethetroubleof

　　inquiring，willgenerallyreceiveforanswerthatformerlytherewereagreat

　　manycottagerswhokeptcows，butthatthelandisnowthrowntothefarmers，

　　andifheinquiresstillfurther，hewillfindthatinthoseparishesthe

　　PoorRateshaveincreasedinanamazingdegreemorethanaccordingtothe

　　averagerisethroughoutEngland。’

　　Thesecottagersoftenreceivednothingatallfortherighttheyhadlost，

　　thecompensationgoingtotheownerofthecottageonly。Buteventhosecottagers

　　whoownedtheircottagereceivedinreturn。fortheircommonrightsomething

　　infinitelylessvaluable。Foratinyallotmentwasworthmuchlessthana

　　commonright，especiallyiftheallotmentwasatadistancefromtheircottage，

　　andthoughtheHauteHuntreActbindsthecommissionerstogiveLordFitzWilliam

　　anallotmentnearhisgardens，therewasnothinginanyActthatwehave

　　seentoobligethecommissionerstogivethecottageranallotmentathis

　　door。Andthecottagershadtofencetheirallotmentsorforfeitthem。Anybody

　　whoglancesatanawardwillunderstandwhatthismeant。itiseasy，for

　　example，toimaginewhathappenedunderthisprovisiontothefollowingcottagers

　　atStanwell：EdmundJordan11/2acresJ。andF。Rideeach11/4acres

　　T。L。Rogers11/4acresBrookerDerby11/4MaryGulliver11/4acres

　　AnneHiggs11/4H。Isherwood11/4WilliamKent11/4ElizabethCarr

　　1acreThomasNash1acreR。Ridejustunder1acreWilliamRobinson

　　justunder1acreWilliamCox3/4acreJohnCarter3/4acreWilliam

　　Porter3/4acreThomasKing1/2acreJohnHetheringtonunder1/2an

　　acreJ。Trout1/4acreand4perchesandCharlesBurkhead12perches。

　　Itwouldbeinterestingtoknowhowmanyofthesesmallparcelsoflandfound

　　theirwayintothehandsofSirwilliamGibbonsandMr。EdmundHill。

　　TheLouthawardisstillmoreinterestingfromthispointofview。J。

　　TroutandCharlesBurkheadpassingrich，theoneon1/4acreand4perches，

　　theotheron12perches，hadonlytopaytheirshareoftheexpensesofthe

　　enclosure，andfortheirownfencing。SirWilliamGibbonswastoomagnanimous

　　amantoaskthemtofencehis500acresaswell。ButatLouththetithe-owners，

　　whotookmorethanathirdofthewhole，wereexcusedtheirshareofthe

　　costs，andalsohadtheirfencingdoneforthembytheotherproprietors。

　　Theprebendaryandthevicarchargedtheexpensesoffencingtheir600acres

　　onpersonslikeElizabethBryanwhowentoffwith39perches，Anndunn35

　　perches，NaomiHodgson，widow35perches，JohnBetts34perches，Elizabeth

　　Atkins32perches，WillBoswell31perches，ElizabethEycon28perches，

　　AnnHubbard，widow15perches，andAnnMetcalf，whoseshareofthespoil

　　was14perches。Theawardshowsthattherewere67personswhoreceivedan

　　acreorless。Cottagerswhoreceivedsuchallotmentsandhadtofencethem

　　hadnoalternativebuttosell，andlittletodowiththemoneybuttodrink

　　it。ThisisthetestimonyoftheGeneralReportonEnclosures。15*

　　Thesquatters，thoughtheyareoftenspokenofascottagers，mustbedistinguished

　　fromthecottagerinregardtotheirlegalandhistoricalposition。They

　　wereinasenseoutsidetheoriginalvillageeconomy。Thecottagerwas，so

　　tospeak，anaboriginalpoorman：thesquatterapooralien。Hesettledon

　　awaste，builtacottage，andgottogetherafewgeeseorsheep，perhaps

　　evenahorseoracow，andproceededtocultivatetheground。

　　Thetreatmentofencroachmentsseemstohavevariedverygreatly，asthe

　　casesanalysedintheAppendixshow，andtherewasnosettledrule。Squatters

　　oflessthantwentyyears’standingseldomreceivedanyconsiderationbeyond

　　theprivilegeofbuyingtheirencroachment。Squattersofmorethantwenty

　　orfortyyears’standing，asthecasemightbe，wereoftenallowedtokeep

　　theirencroachments，andinsomecasesweretreatedlikecottagers，with

　　aclaimtoanallotment。But，ofcourse，likethecottagers，theylosttheir

　　commonrights。

　　Lastly，enclosuresweptawaythebureaucracyoftheoldvillage：theviewers

　　offieldsandlettersofthecattle，whohadgeneralsupervisionofthearrangements

　　forpasturingsheeporcowsinthecommonmeadow，thecommonshepherd，the

　　chimneypeeperswhosawthatthechimneyswerekeptproperly，thehayward，

　　orpinder，wholookedafterthepound。Mostoftheselittleofficialsof

　　thevillagecourthadbeenpaideitherinlandorbyfees。Whenitwasproposed

　　toabolishParliamentaryEnclosure，andtosubstituteaGeneralEnclosure

　　Bill，theParliamentaryofficials，whomadelargesumsoutoffeesfromEnclosure