BY THE SAME AUTHOR. Demy 8vo. Cloth. 7s. 6d. THE ENGLISH PEASANTRY. THE QUARTERLY REVIEW, October, 1874. (Extract from the Article "East Anglia: its Strikes and Lock-Outs.") "We have placed at the head of this article the names of three books, all of which contain information on the subject of this labour movement. Of these far the most valuable is a book by Mr. Heath, entitled The English Peasantry.' THE WESTMINSTER REVIEW, July, 1874. "Mr. Heath is quite right in his belief that such a book as he now publishes was much needed. He is most fair in his endeavour to point out to what degree the farmers are accountable, and to what degree blameless, in regard to the condition of their labourers. The whole work is singularly free from dry statistics and will be welcomed by all classes of readers anxious to be easily informed on the subject of which it treats.' ATHENÆUM. "Mr. Heath's book is interesting and well written, and the author is entitled to much praise for it." 66 SPECTATOR. 'Very interesting and very important." GUARDIAN. "Mr. Heath is always outspoken, candid, and thoroughly honest. He invariably endeavours to state his case fairly and truly, and never perverts his facts even in the apparent interest of the cause for which he is so pleasantly enthusiastic." EXAMINER. "Mr. Heath's work is a well-written and trustworthy book on a most important subject. He approaches all questions relating to the movement, of which he has become the historian, in an eminently fair and impartial spirit. The author has penetrated the problem to some depth, and is fearless in his facts and eloquent in his description of them. Mr. Heath is just such a writer as the subject requires-calm, sensible, fully informed; an interesting writer, and at the same time above the temptation to deaden the force of startling facts by padding the statements of them with cheap declamation. A book more deeply interesting to every one with a moderate share of sympathy for the less fortunate of their fellow-creatures has not been issued from the press for many a day." PALL MALL GAZETTE. "Mr. Heath has accumulated a large amount of serviceable information, so that his book, which is readable throughout, will be found also useful for reference... The statements are made after long and careful observation." SCOTSMAN. "Mr. Heath's book altogether is a valuable contribution to the literature of the great question with which it deals. .. It presents a graphic. and we believe, on the whole, a very truthful picture of the condition of agricultural labourers." NOTTINGHAM DAILY GUARDIAN. "Its literary merits are decidedly high. Mr. Heath's style of writing is graceful and scholarlike, whilst his descriptions are unusually vivid and picturesque.' SHEFFIELD DAILY TELEGRAPH. "Armed with this volume and the file of a daily paper, any politician may set up as an authority on the agricultural labour question. . . A book which is sure to attract much attention all over the country." YORK HERALD. "Mr. Heath's writings on agricultural questions have already won for him repute as a shrewd, kindly, and temperate observer. The present work will materially enhance his reputation." WESTERN DAILY MERCURY. "An admirable and elaborate description of the peasantry of England. Since, in his previous work, the author has shown great ability in dealing with this most important subject, his latest production is sure to have a host of attentive readers." IN THE WEST OF ENGLAND. BY FRANCIS GEORGE HEATH, EDITOR OF THE NEW EDITION OF GILPIN'S "FOREST SCENERY." AUTHOR QF "THE ENGLISH PEASANTRY," "SYLVAN SPRING," " "OUR WOODLAND TREES," "THE FERN WORLD,' ETC., ETC. A NEW EDITION, Being the Third Thousand, Enlarged from 100 to 400 pages, LONDON: SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON, SEARLE, & RIVINGTON, CROWN BUILDINGS, 188, FLEET STREET. 1880. [All rights reserved.] PREFACE TO THE NEW EDITION. THIS volume, in its present form, is substantially a New Book: and, inasmuch as a New Book is ordinarily entitled to more attention than a New Edition, the Author feels that he sacrifices something in putting forth the following pages under the apparent guise of a mere re-issue. That it is much more than a re-issue of the First Edition will be allowed, when it is stated that the hundred pages, of which it first consisted, have been extended, in the present publication, to four hundred pages, by carrying back and bringing forward its narrative. The original chapters which have been entirely re-written -thus form but the nucleus of the present work; and, even in their re-written form, those |