no bedtick to put it in, and the straw is more easily kept within bounds: he has no bedstead, but a few turves or raised earth to keep the bed distinct from the rest of the floor.

His young wife is all this while living with her own parents or with his; but now, being "as ladies wish to be who love their lords," she is busy spinning blankets and coverlets; and she now goes home to her own new mansion to lie in. Her household furniture consists of a spinning-wheel, a stool or bench to sit on, a pot for boiling the potatoes, and a sort of table to eat them off. Of other furniture there is none that I remember, except a besom for washing the potatoes with. As soon as the potatoes are boiled they are carried to the door, the water is poured off from them, and they are then brought in and emptied upon the table. The pot is set down to receive the peelings as the potatoes are eaten; a neighbour who keeps a pig sends round and collects them, paying for them with whatever he abounds in: if a publican, the common price of potato-peelings is a pint of ale with a penny roll, every Saturday evening, for each potato-eater; if a farmer, the reward is generally a piece of ground to plant potatoes on.

In the course of time, if the man be industrious and healthy, he will muster up a pig of his own, to eat his own potato-skins, to graze in the lanes, and sleep with the children. By and by he begins to look up in the world, gets a nanny-goat, or may-be two tied together with a hayband; they graze in the lanes, and really give a great deal of milk. He rents a small corner of some field for a potato-garden, and formerly gave his vote for members of parliament. His children grow up to be men and women, come over to England, and make their fortune either by serving the bricklayers or enlisting for soldiers; in either of which capacities they are made men of, as the life of a private soldier is a king's life compared with their former state.

I dare say, Sir, you have observed the features of an Irish peasant of the lowest grade; the curl of his lips, and how he shows his teeth, something like the passion of fear, pain, or disgust, just as if he were walking in snow, or on sharp flints or thorns, with his naked feet; for how can he afford himself proper clothing on 4d. or 6d. per day? I had, when gardener to Lord Doneraile, where your correspondent Mr. Haycroft now is, I had, I say, ten men, four women, and four boys, all of whom I paid, on a Saturday night, with a two-pound note. I dare say their wages are not much altered yet. I am, Sir, &c.

Heath House, near Cheadle, May 10. 1830.

JOHN HOWDEN.

ART. VI. Four Designs for Labourers' Cottages. By Mr. RICHARD VARDEN, Architectural Pupil with John Perry, Esq., Architect, Godalming.

Sir,

THE invitation you give to artists, in Vol. I. p. 354., to furnish you with designs of various kinds, has induced me to trouble you with a few sketches of cottages; although, as they are nearly the first attempt of a very young hand, I fear they may not be such as to be of any service to you. Should one among them be found worthy of a place in a Number of your Magazine, I should feel myself very highly honoured; and, if not, I trust you will excuse the liberty I have taken in laying them before you. Subjoining a few words in explanation of the sketches,

No. 1. (fig.119.), a cottage of the smallest description, containing a porch (a), tool-house (b), pantry (c), living-room (d), and bed-room (e), with a garret over the two latter apartThe walls of this cottage should be built in 14-in.

ments.

rough stone-work, with square dressings, properly coped. The floor ought to be at least 9 in. above the level of the ground, the surface of which should be inclined, to carry the water off when being cleaned: the height of the room 8 ft. If possible, the front should be to the south-east: for, if the rooms receive their light from the north, they will always be cold, having a damp cheerless effect; if from the west, they will be heated to such a degree by the afternoon sun, as to make the sleeping-room scarcely habitable during the three summer months.

Cow-shed, pigsties, fuel-house, &c., are supposed to be at a convenient distance, and of a size suited to the habits and wants of the tenant.

No. 2. (fig. 120.) contains a living-room (a), wash-house (b), lobby (c), sleeping-room (d), and pantry. (e) If another sleeping-room should be wanted, it may be added behind, or

by converting the wash-house into a bedroom, and the pantry and lobby into a wash-house, which should contain a copper, oven, &c. To be built with any materials that come handy, and coloured a good warm stone tint. The roof to be covered with old tiles, and the gables to have large boards, &c. Fuelhouse and other outhouses to be placed according to the nature of the ground.

No. 3. (fig. 121.), a larger cottage, containing a kitchen (a), back-kitchen (b), lobby (c), two bedrooms (d d), and pantry (e). May be built of timber-framing plastered, of the Pisa walling, of stone, or whatever is cheapest in the neighbourhood. The roof thatched with reeds or straw. Pigsties, &c., detached.

No. 4. (fig. 122.), a double cottage, built with stone or brick, and thatched with reeds. They each contain three rooms on the ground-floor, and two above. Living-room (a), washhouse (b), pantry (c), porch (d), tool-shed (e), and bedrooms (ff). The walls may be built hollow, of brickwork, in Silverlock's manner, as described in your Encyclopædia of Gardening, and also in this Magazine; or in brick in bed, 11 in. wide, with a vacuity between, as described in your own essay on Cottage Husbandry and Architecture, in the present Volume.

Cow-shed and out-buildings to be according to the wants of the occupiers.