R3/4791

Letter Reads- Farmers are laid up from Michaelmas until after Xmas and are consumers rather than producers for Farm Cash Account. If nothing is produced beyond rent and interest it should not be a disappointment. Regrets a "sad spirit of incendiarism at work in the County". The Duke's estate has escaped, except 2 barns at Maulden. Last night one of Lord Ashburnham's Clapham farms was burnt down, and there was a large fire at Hawnes. "There appears to be a morbid feeling of revenge in minds of some people". Labourers have been worse off for work and food cost more but crime is on the increase now. Believes it to be due to increased preservation of game and increase of poaching. Brewers admit an increased demand for beer since harvest. Labourers are not the consumers but "loose shuffling fellows who rarely work and who do not want to work" and get money by poaching. When preserves decreased in Beds. beer shops lost their custom and fires ceased but with their return beer trade revives and fires commence. When game could not be sold poachers were compelled to work and wives will tell you "money earned by labour is brought home but that got by poaching scarcely ever." Consequently poor rates increase. Those sent to prison swell the County rate and farmers ask why they should be put to this expense. Lord Hatherton's declaration to exterminate hares as well as rabbits followed by Sir R. Peel is thought by farmers to have made others think simularly. They would be glad if the Duke would reduce the hares within moderate limits as it would resume a great source of temptations away from people, which farmers believe causes increase of arson and local burdens on them.

3 Dec 1843

From: 1843 To: 1843

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Ashburnam, Lord,
Hatherton, Lord,
Peel, Sir R.

farmer, farms, arson, labourer, crime, poaching, brewers, beer retailer, prison, Poor Rate, hares, rabbits, letters, WOBURN, Woburn Abbey, CLAPHAM, MAULDEN, HAYNES