SeeforthissubjectCambridgeModernHistory，vol。viii，chap。
andP。Sagnac，LaLé；gislationCivilsdelaRé；volution
Franç；aise。
Jackson’sOxfordJournal，September11，1830，saidthatasingle
cottagersometimesclearedasmuchas£；20ayearbygeese。
OxfordUniversityandCityHerald，September25，1830。
HouseofCommonsJournal，February17，1815。
AlexanderCroke(1758-1842)，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
quantityofland(theconventionalproportionwasone-sixteenth(1*))inlieu
ofhissurfacerights，andthatcompactallotmentwasinfinitelymorevaluable
thantherightssocompensated。Similarlythetithe-ownerstoodtogainwith
theincreasedrent。Thelargefarmer’sinterestswerealsoinenclosure，
whichgavehimawiderfieldforhiscapitalandenterprise。Theotherclasses
stoodtolose。
Forevenifthesmallfarmerreceivedstrictjusticeinthedivisionof
thecommonfields，hisshareinthelegalcostsandtheadditionalexpense
offencinghisownallotmentsoftenoverwhelmedhim，andhewasobligedto
sellhisproperty。(2*)Theexpenseswerealwaysveryheavy，andinsomecases
amountedto£；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
Homer(1719-1791)，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。TheGeneralReportonEnclosures(p。12)recordstheresults
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：EdmundJordan(11/2acres)J。andF。Ride(each11/4acres)
T。L。Rogers(11/4acres)BrookerDerby(11/4)MaryGulliver(11/4acres)
AnneHiggs(11/4)H。Isherwood(11/4)WilliamKent(11/4)ElizabethCarr
(1acre)ThomasNash(1acre)R。Ride(justunder1acre)WilliamRobinson
(justunder1acre)WilliamCox(3/4acre)JohnCarter(3/4acre)William
Porter(3/4acre)ThomasKing(1/2acre)JohnHetherington(under1/2an
acre)J。Trout(1/4acreand4perches)andCharlesBurkhead(12perches)。
Itwouldbeinterestingtoknowhowmanyofthesesmallparcelsoflandfound
theirwayintothehandsofSirwilliamGibbonsandMr。EdmundHill。
TheLouthawardisstillmoreinterestingfromthispointofview。J。
TroutandCharlesBurkheadpassingrich，theoneon1/4acreand4perches，
theotheron12perches，hadonlytopaytheirshareoftheexpensesofthe
enclosure，andfortheirownfencing。SirWilliamGibbonswastoomagnanimous
amantoaskthemtofencehis500acresaswell。ButatLouththetithe-owners，
whotookmorethanathirdofthewhole，wereexcusedtheirshareofthe
costs，andalsohadtheirfencingdoneforthembytheotherproprietors。
Theprebendaryandthevicarchargedtheexpensesoffencingtheir600acres
onpersonslikeElizabethBryanwhowentoffwith39perches，Anndunn(35
perches)，NaomiHodgson，widow(35perches)，JohnBetts(34perches)，Elizabeth
Atkins(32perches)，WillBoswell(31perches)，ElizabethEycon(28perches)，
AnnHubbard，widow(15perches)，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
