Rural Rides

"Rural Rides" by William Cobbett is a travelogue and agricultural commentary written in the early 19th century. This work documents Cobbett's various journeys through rural England, providing insights into the agricultural practices, social conditions, and the landscapes he encounters along the way. The narrative offers a blend of personal observations and socio-political critiques, showcasing the author’s strong opinions about the state of agriculture and the plight of farmers. The opening of the journey begins with Cobbett traveling from London to Newbury. He describes the atmospheric conditions, notably the dense fog, and contrasts the scenery with his experiences in America. As he travels through the countryside, his reflections touch on the poor state of farmers, the agricultural landscape, and his disdain for certain aspects of landownership and government policies. He critiques the pretensions of the gentry he encounters, exemplified by a park belonging to a Mr. Montague, and emphasizes the hardships faced by farmers as they grapple with economic challenges. This sets the stage for a broader exploration of rural life and the sociopolitical landscape of the time. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

William Cobbett was an English pamphleteer, journalist, politician, and farmer born in Farnham, Surrey. He was one of an agrarian faction seeking to reform Parliament, abolish "rotten boroughs", restrain foreign activity, and raise wages, with the goal of easing poverty among farm labourers and small land holders. Cobbett backed lower taxes, saving, reversing commons enclosures and returning to the gold standard. He opposed borough-mongers, sinecurists, bureaucratic "tax-eaters" and stockbrokers. His radicalism furthered the Reform Act 1832 and gained him one of two newly created seats in Parliament for the borough of Oldham. His polemics range from political reform to religion, including Catholic emancipation. His best known book is Rural Rides. He argued against Malthusianism, saying economic betterment could support global population growth.