ABSTRACT
The population of Lancashire, before the introduction of the Cotton Manu facture, was chiefly Agricultural, and a favourable picture of its state may be found in Addison's character of Sir Roger de Coverley. In those days, the Squire was the feudal Lord of the neighbourhood, and his residence, or the Hall, as it was called, was looked upon in the light of a palace. He was the dictator of opinion, the regulator of parish affairs, and the exclusive settler of all disputes. On holidays the rustics were invited to the Hall, where they wrestled, ran races, played at quoits and drank ale. An invitation to the Hall was a certificate of good character; not to be invited along with his neighbours was a reproach to a man; because no one was uninvited unless he had been guilty of some impropriety. The Clergyman had scarcely less influence than the Squire, his sacred character and his superior attain ments gave him great authority; he was generally from Oxford, and in those days the appellation of Oxford Scholar was understood to describe a man of learning and piety. He never met the elders of his flock without the kindest enquiries after the welfare of their families, and, as his reproof was dreaded, so his commendation was sought, by young and old. Incontinence in man or woman was esteemed a heinous offence, and neglecting or refusing to pay a just debt was scarcely ever heard of. Twice at Church on Sundays, a strict observance of fast days, and a regular reading of the Scriptures every Sunday evening, at which the youngsters, after putting off their best clothes, were always present, were uniform and established customs. The events of the neighbourhood flowed in a regular, unbroken train; politics were a field little entered into, and the histories of each other's families, including cousins five times removed, with marriages, births, deaths, &c. formed the almost only subjects of their conversations.
