SON IDÉAL SOCIAL

Un gouvernement patriarcal grâce auquel chaque village prendrait soin de ses pauvres sous la direction de son pasteur : tel semble avoir été l'idéal de Crabbe. Il connaissait peu les grandes villes et leur population ouvrière, ardente et flottante. Trowbridge même n'était qu'un gros bourg. Sans doute, il y avait déjà remarqué des signes d'antago-^ nisme entre patrons (*) et employés (') ; il savait aussi quelle

«... Mr. Waldroa and I took a chaise to Devizes on the day of the sessions to meet the magistrates who assembled (the coramon business being over) to sit in judgment on my friend Bowles for his pétition to the King respecting their severe sentence on a woman who had purloined from her master some cups and saucers, value 4/6. Their sentence was at first severe, viz, imprisonment to six months and a fine of Ji 4o. It might hâve been Ji 4oo, for the woman was utterly unable to raise the sum, but they found that they had no power to fine a criminal, and then, calling her in a second time, they commuted the fine for six other months of solitary confinement, Mr. Bowles was shocked by this severity, for the woman had (this excepted) a good character, and he went to them ail begging alleviation of punishment and, ail refustng, he petitioned the King, and had his prayer granted. The magistrates assembled, thirty-two in number... About twelve of us were for letting the matter drop, but the majorily... drew up some résolves, viz., that the pétition was not expressed with literal truth and exactness, and that the magistracy was reflected upon wiihoul cause, etc. Lord Folkestone, Mr. Benett, and about tcn or twelve of us opposed ail this, but we could not prevail, yet I think they will not be indiscreet enough to publish in the papers what they formed into resolutions, but let the matter die : if not, and appeal be made to the public, they will in my opinion lose much more than they are aware of. The sentence was severe, and so the public will judge... » (Collection Broadley);

30 Le numéro de la Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette du 3i janvier .1828, publiant les « Résolutions » ;

4° Un billet de Bowles à B., de Bremhill, le 16 ou 18 férricr 1828 : a My dear Sir, I shall be delighted cum Zephyris et hirundine prima to come to Pucklechurch (où B. était vicaire) to meet my excellent friend your Father — who has acted like a nobleman towards me in my late wars with some of the merciless squires. » (Collection Broadley.)