executed by Lady Emily Mc Leod, with the assistance of the surgeon-general, Dr. Rollo; who enquires into, and reports upon the cases. In the preceding year, 1803, relief has been given to ninety-six women, at the expense of £58 14s. 7d.; the whole number of lying-in women, assisted, since the commencement of the institution, being 546.

OBSERVATIONS.

It must be a circumstance of the highest gratification to the ladies who have supported this charity, to reflect how large a number of their own sex they have soothed and assisted in the time of agony and distress,-what strong impressions of gratitude they have left on their minds,and what favourable lessons of kindness and charity to their fellow sufferers, they have afforded to the persons who have been relieved by their care and attention.

This charity is not liable to the common

objection, of diminishing the energy of the poor; it not superseding the general necessity of exertion, but providing only for a peculiar case of pressure and suffering; and being confined to the relief of those, who have not had the means of making the previous provision themselves; so that while it is exempt from the danger of lessening the spur to industry, it has retained in the hands of the more elevated and opulent of their female neighbours, the enviable and divine privilege, of affording relief to the distressed, and of giving ease and consolation in one of the severest afflictions and sufferings to which human nature is subjected.

1st June, 1804.

No. CXV.

Extract from an account of the provision made for the Poor of Wymeswould. By the Rev. R. A. INGRAM, B. D.

THE

HE parish of Wymeswould, in the county of Leicester, was inclosed in 1758. The width of the principal roads or lanes, as required by the award under the act of inclosure, is 50 yards; a considerable proportion of which is directed to be let out for the use of the cows of the poorer class of inhabitants, who have no land of their own. The whole quantity of ground included in these lanes is computed at 80 acres. About 17 acres are rendered unprofitable by roads, paths, drains, &c.: there remaining then 63 productive acres, the herbage of which is commonly let out from Old May-day till Martinmas, for the feed of about 36 cows, at the limited sum of six shillings a cow. A few years ago, Р

VOL. IV.

this

rent was 5s.; but the herbage has been so much benefited by the continual improvement of the roads, that 6s. now is a lower rent than five was a few years ago; and is indeed a very low rent. A certain part of the lanes is allowed to be rented by the farmers; but the whole is usually let to none but the lower ranks of people, the generality of whom have no land whatever, except perhaps small cottage gardens; and their cows are supported in winter by fodder purchased of the farmers, or they are joysted.. No person is allowed to send more than one cow into the lanes, as there are generally applications for many more than 36, which gives the parishioners an opportunity of discriminating those that are most deserving of encouragement. prevent fraud or loss, the rent is paid at the time of hiring, and is expended on the roads in the following part of the spring and summer. By the farther improvement of the roads, so that the grass will be less cut up by traffic upon it, a larger number of cows may be admitted with as

Το

much benefit as 36 are now. After Martinmas the lanes are let out to the highest bidder for sheep walks till the first of March, from which time till Old May-day no stock is admitted upon them. Some poor person is appointed to the office of lane-keeper, whose business it is to be on the look out and prevent depredations, and either himself or his children for him (who are commonly ready enough to volunteer their services) to assist in collecting the cows morning and evening to be milked; for which services he is allowed 1s. for each cow, and a meal of milk in the season, besides the good-will of his several employers, which is commonly of some value to him. The population of Wymeswould is between 8 and goo souls, and about 170 families. Those families that are not settled on the parish, are not considered as entitled to the benefit of the lanes. There may be about 100 families that are, of which number 36 enjoy the above privilege every year. The principal inhabitants are very sensible that the above employment of their lanes has