Fromthebeginningoftheeighteenthcenturythereinsarethrowntothe
enclosuremovement，andthepolicyofenclosureisemancipatedfromallthese
checksandafterthoughts。OneinterestissupremethroughoutEngland，supreme
inParliament，supremeinthecountry；theCrownfollows，thenationobeys。
Theagriculturalcommunitywhichwastakentopiecesintheeighteenth
centuryandreconstructedinthemannerinwhichadictatorreconstructs
afreegovernment，wasthreatenedfrommanypoints。Itwasnotkilledby
avaricealone。Cobbettusedtoattributetheenclosuremovemententirely
tothegreedofthelandowners，but，ifgreedwasasufficientmotive，greed
wasinthiscaseclothedandalmostenvelopedinpublicspirit。Letusremember
whatthiscommunitylookedliketomenwiththemindofthelandlordclass。
TheEnglishlandownershavealwaysbelievedthatorderwouldberesolved
intoitsoriginalchaos，iftheyceasedtocontrolthelivesanddestinies
oftheirneighbours。’Agreatresponsibilityrestsonuslandlords；ifwe
go，thewholethinggoes。’SosaysthelandlordinMr。Galsworthy’snovel，
andsosaidthelandlordsintheeighteenthcentury。TheEnglisharistocracy
alwaysthinkingofthisclassasthepillarsofsociety，astheAtlasthat
bearstheburdenoftheworld，verynaturallyconcludedthatthisoldpeasant
community，withitstroublesomerights，wasapublicencumbrance。Thisview
receivedaspecialimpetusfromallthecircumstancesoftheage。Thelandlord
classwasconstantlybeingrecruitedfromtheranksofthemanufacturers，
andthenewlandlords，bringingintothischarmedcircleanenergyoftheir
own，caughtatonceitstasteforpower，fordirection，forauthority，for
imposingitswill。ReadersofShirleywillrememberthatwhenRobertMoore
picturestohimselfafutureofusefulnessandsuccess，hesaysthathewill
obtainanActforenclosingNunnelyCommon，thathisbrotherwillbeput
onthebench，andthatbetweenthemtheywilldominatetheparish。Thebook
endsinthisdreamoftriumph。Signorialpositionowesitsspeciallustre
forEnglishmindstotheassociationofsocialdistinctionwithpowerover
thelifeandwaysofgroupsofmenandwomen。WhenBagehotsneeredatthe
suddenmillionairesofhisday，whohopedtodisguisetheirsocialdefects
bybuyingoldplacesandhidingamongaristocraticfurniture，hewasremarking
onafeatureofEnglishlifethatwasveryfarfrombeingpeculiartohis
time。DidnotAdamSmithobservethatmerchantswereverycommonlyambitious
ofbecomingcountrygentlemen？Thiskindofambitionwastheformthatpublic
spiritoftentookinsuccessfulEnglishmen，anditwasaverypowerfulmenace
totheoldvillageanditstraditionsofcollectivelife。
Nowthispassionreceivedatthistimeaspecialmomentumfromthecondition
ofagriculture。Adictatorshiplendsitselfmorereadilythananyotherform
ofgovernmenttothequickintroductionofrevolutionaryideas，andnewideas
wereintheair。Thus，inadditiontothedesireforsocialpower，there
wasbehindtheenclosuremovementazealforeconomicprogressseconding
andalmostconcealingthedirectinspirationofself-interest。Manyanenclosing
landlordthoughtonlyofthesatisfactionofdoublingortreblinghisrent：
thatisunquestionable。Ifwearetotrustsowarmachampionofenclosure
asWilliamMarshall，thiswasthestateofmindofthegreatmajority。But
thereweremanywhoseeyesglistenedastheythoughtoftheprosperitythey
weretobringtoEnglishagriculture，applyingtoawiderandwiderdomain
thelessonsthatweretobelearntfromtheprocessesofscientificfarming。
AmanwhohadcaughtthelargeideasofaCoke，ormasteredthediscoveries
ofaBakewell，chafedundertherestraintsthatthesystemofcommonagriculture
placedonimprovementandexperiment。Itwasmaddeningtohavetosetyour
pacebytheslowbucolictemperamentofsmallfarmers，nursedinasimple
andold-fashionedroutine，wholookedwithsuspiciononanyproposalthat
wasstrangetothem。Inthistiresomepartnershiptheswiftwereputbetween
theshaftswiththeslow，andthetemptationtothinkthatwhatwaswanted
wastogetridofthepartnershipaltogether，wasalmostirresistible。From
suchastatethemindpassedrapidlyandnaturallytotheconclusionthat
thewiderthespherebroughtintotheabsolutepossessionoftheenlightened
class，thegreaterwouldbethepublicgain。ThespiritinwhichtheBoard
ofAgricultureapproachedthesubjectfoundappropriateexpressioninSir
JohnSinclair’shigh-soundinglanguage。’Theideaofhavinglandsincommon，
ithasbeenjustlyremarked，istobederivedfromthatbarbarousstateof
society，whenmenwerestrangerstoanyhigheroccupationthanthoseofhunters
orshepherds，orhadonlyjusttastedtheadvantagestobereapedfromthe
cultivationoftheearth。’(16*)ArthurYoung(17*)comparedthewithitsinconveniences
’whichthebarbarityoftheirancestorshadneitherknowledgetodiscover
norgovernmenttoremedy’totheTartarpolicyoftheshepherdstate。
Itisnotsurprisingthatmenundertheinfluenceofthesesetideascould
findnovirtueatallintheoldsystem，andthattheysoonbegantopersuade
themselvesthatthatsystemwasatthebottomofalltheevilsofsociety。
Itwasharmfultothemoralsanduselesstothepocketsofthepoor。’The
benefit，’wroteArbuthnot，(18*)’whichtheyaresupposedtoreapfromcommons，
intheirpresentstate，Iknowtobemerelynominal；nay，indeed，whatis
worse，Iknow，that，inmanyinstances，itisanessentialinjurytothem，
bybeingmadeapleafortheiridleness；for，somefewexcepted，ifyouoffer
themwork，theywilltellyou，thattheymustgotolookuptheirsheep，
cutfurzes，gettheircowoutofthepound，or，perhaps，saytheymusttake
theirhorsetobeshod，thathemaycarrythemtoahorse-raceorcricket-match。’
LordSheffield，inthecourseofoneofthedebatesinParliament，described
thecommonersasa’nuisance，’andmostpeopleofhisclassthoughtofthem
assomethingworse。Mr。JohnBillingsley，whowrotetheReportonSomerset
fortheBoardofAgriculturein1795，describesinsomedetailtheenervating
atmosphereofthecommoners’life。’Besides，moraleffectsofaninjurious
tendencyaccruetothecottager，fromarelianceontheimaginarybenefits
ofstockingacommon。Thepossessionofacowortwo，withahog，andafew
geese，naturallyexaltsthepeasant，inhisownconception，abovehisbrethren
inthesamerankofsociety。Itinspiressomedegreeofconfidenceinaproperty，
inadequatetohissupport。Insaunteringafterhiscattle，heacquiresa
habitofindolence。Quarter，half，andoccasionallywholedaysareimperceptibly
lost。Daylabourbecomesdisgusting；theaversionincreasesbyindulgence；
andatlengththesaleofahalf-fedcalf，orhog，furnishesthemeansof
addingintemperancetoidleness。’(19*)Mr。Bishton，whowrotetheReport
onShropshirein1794，givesastillmoreinterestingglimpseintothemind
oftheenclosingclass：’Theuseofcommonlandbylabourersoperatesupon
themindasasortofindependence。’Whenthecommonsareenclosed’thelabourers
willworkeverydayintheyear，theirchildrenwillbeputouttolabour
early，’and’thatsubordinationofthelowerranksofsocietywhichinthe
presenttimesissomuchwanted，wouldbetherebyconsiderablysecured。’
AsimilarviewwastakenofthemoraleffectsofcommonsbyMiddleton，
thewriteroftheReportonMiddlesex。(20*)’Ontheotherhand，theyare，
inmanyinstances，ofrealinjurytothepublic；byholdingoutalureto
thepoorman——Imeanofmaterialswherewithtobuildhiscottage，andground
toerectitupon：togetherwithfiringandtherunofhispoultryandpigs
fornothing。Thisisofcoursetemptationsufficienttoinduceagreatnumber
ofpoorpersonstosettleuponthebordersofsuchcommons。Butthemischief
doesnotendhere：forhavinggainedthesetriflingadvantages，throughthe
neglectorconnivanceofthelordofthemanor，itunfortunatelygivestheir
mindsanimproperbias，andinculcatesadesiretolive，fromthattimeforward，
withoutlabour，oratleastwithaslittleaspossible。’
OneofthewitnessesbeforetheSelectCommitteeonCommonsInclosure
in1844wasMr。CarusWilson，whoisinterestingastheoriginalofthecharacter
ofMr。BrocklehurstinJaneEyre。WeknowhowthatzealousChristianwould
regardthecommonersfromthespeechinwhichhereprovedMissTemplefor
givingthepupilsatLowoodalunchofbreadandcheeseononeoccasionwhen
theirmeagrebreakfasthadbeenuneatable。’Oh，madam，whenyouputbread
andcheese，insteadofburntporridge，intothesechildren’smouths，you
mayindeedfeedtheirvilebodies，butyoulittlethinkhowyoustarvetheir
immortalsouls！’WearenotsurprisedtolearnthatMr。CarusWilsonfound
thecommoners’hardenedandunpromising，’andthathewasobligedtoinform
thecommitteethat。themisconductwhichthesystemencouraged’hardensthe
heart，andcausesagooddealofmischief，andatthesametimeputsthe
personinanunfavourablepositionfortheapproachofwhatmightbeserviceable
tohiminamoralandreligiouspointofview。’(21*)
Itisinteresting，afterreadingalltheseconfidentgeneralisationsabout
theinfluenceofthiskindoflifeuponthecharacterofthepoor，tolearn
whatthecommonersthemselvesthoughtofitsmoralatmosphere。Thiswecan
dofromsuchapetitionasthatsentbythesmallproprietorsandpersons
entitledtorightsofcommonatRaunds，inNorthamptonshire。Theseunfortunate
peoplelosttheirrightsbyanEnclosureActin1797，andduringtheprogress
oftheBilltheypetitionedParliamentagainstit，intheseterms：’That
thePetitionersbegLeavetorepresenttotheHousethat，underPretence
ofimprovingLandsinthesaidParish，theCottagersandotherPersonsentitled
toRightofCommonontheLandsintendedtobeinclosed，willbedeprived
ofaninestimablePrivilege，whichtheynowenjoy，ofturningacertainNumber
oftheirCows，Calves，andSheep，onandoverthesaidLands；aPrivilege
thatenablesthemnotonlytomaintainthemselvesandtheirFamiliesinthe
depthofWinter，whentheycannot，evenfortheirMoney，obtainfromthe
OccupiersofotherLandsthesmallestPortionofMilkorWheyforsuchnecessary
Purpose，but，inadditiontothis，theycannowsupplytheGrazierwithyoung
orleanStockatareasonablePrice，tofattenandbringtoMarketatamore
moderateRateforgeneralConsumption，whichtheyconceivetobethemost
rationalandeffectualWayofestablishingPublicPlentyandCheapnessof
Provision；andtheyfurtherconceive，thatamoreruinousEffectofthis
InclosurewillbethealmosttotaldepopulationoftheirTown，nowfilled
withboldandhardyHusbandmen，fromamongwhom，andtheInhabitantsofother
openParishes，theNationhashithertoderiveditsgreatestStrengthand
Glory，intheSupplyofitsFleetsandAries，anddrivingthem，fromNecessity
andWantofEmploy，invastCrowds，intomanufacturingTowns，wherethevery
NatureoftheirEmployment，overtheLoomortheForge，soonmaywastetheir
Strength，andconsequentlydebilitatetheirPosterity，andbyimperceptible
degreesobliteratethatgreatPrincipleofObediencetotheLawsofGodand
theirCountry，whichformstheCharacterofthesimpleandartlessVillagers，
moreequallydistributedthroughtheOpenCountries，andonwhichsomuch
dependsthegoodOrderandGovernmentoftheState：Thesearesomeofthe
InjuriestothemselvesasIndividuals，andoftheillConsequencestothe
Public，whichthePetitionersconceivewillfollowfromthis，astheyhave
alreadydonefrommanyInclosures，butwhichtheydidnotthinktheywere
entitledtolaybeforetheHouse(theConstitutionalPatronandProtector
ofthePoor)untilitunhappilycametotheirownLottobeexposedtothem
throughtheBillnowpending。’(22*)
Whenwerememberthattheenterpriseoftheagewasunderthespellof
themostseductiveeconomicteachingofthetime，andthattheoldpeasant
society，wearingasitdidthelookofconfusionandweakness，hadtofear
notonlythesimplifyingappetitesofthelandlords，butthesimplifying
philosophy，inEnglandofanAdamSmith，inFranceofthePhysiocrats，we
canrealisethatarulingclasshasseldomfoundsoplausibleanatmosphere
forthefreeplayofitsinterestsandideas。Descrimessontflatté；s
d’ê；trepré；sidé；sparunevertu。Benthamhimselfthought
thespectacleofanenclosureoneofthemostreassuringofalltheevidences
ofimprovementandhappiness。Indeed，alltheelementsseemedtohaveconspired
againstthepeasant，foraesthetictaste，whichmightatothertimeshave
restrained，intheeighteenthcenturyencouragedthedestructionofthecommons
andtheirroughbeauty。Theragefororderandsymmetryandneatcultivation
wasuniversal。ItfoundexpressioninBurnet，whosaidoftheAlpsandAppenines
thattheyhadneitherformnorbeauty，neithershapenororder，anymore
thanthecloudsoftheair：inJohnson，whosaidoftheHighlandsthat’the
uniformityofbarrennesscanaffordverylittleamusementtothetraveller；’
andinCobbett，whosaidoftheCotswolds，’thisisasortofcountryhaving
lesstopleasetheeyethananyotherthatIhaveeverseen，alwayssave
andexcepttheheathslikethoseofBagshotandHindhead。’Theenjoyment
ofwildnaturewasalostsense，toberediscoveredonedaybytheRomanticists
andtheRevolution，buttoolatetohelptheEnglishvillage。InFrance，
owingtovariouscauses，parteconomic，partpolitical，onwhichweshall
touchlater，thepeasantpersistedinhisancientandridiculoustenure，
andsurvivedtobecometheenvyofEnglishobserver：itwasonlyinEngland
thathelosthisfooting，andthathisancientpatrimonyslippedawayfrom
him。
