Having pointed out the separate faults of these three classes of cottages, we shall now state what appears to be their greatest defect, and which is common to them all. Every one who has lived any time in England is aware that the humblest cottage in that country has an appendage to it, essential not only to cleanliness, but even to decency. It is hardly credible, but it is nevertheless a fact, that these appendages are scarcely ever to be met with throughout the west of Scotland. There are even new and substantial farm-houses, and first-rate gardeners' and bailiffs' houses, without them. Some gentlemen who have built themselves handsome mansions, and erected elegant lodges at their entrance gates, have altogether neglected to add this necessary convenience to those lodges. Not far from Ayr, we found a new village, consisting of about a hundred houses, all feued; and we ascertained from one of the inhabitants, that there were only three of the houses to which this appendage was attached. It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that the outskirts of all the villages and of all the towns, and the immediate neighbourhoods of all the cottages, in the west of Scotland are most offensively disfigured. That the general absence of the conveniences alluded to, in this district, is clearly owing to the general want of a taste for cleanliness and decency (in the particular alluded to) among the inhabitants, and not from want of means to procure them, is evident from the circumstance, that every house in the above village is the property of its occupant, who might have built upon his ground whatever he chose. It appears, also, that this want of cleanliness and decency is not inconsistent with a high degree of cultivation in other particulars; for, the same village being at a distance from the parish school, the inhabitants have joined together, built a school-house, and hired a teacher, to procure for their children the benefits of education. This neglect of minor comforts, and attention to important advantages, is characteristic of our countrymen; and is, no doubt, in some points of view, highly honourable to them; but, to place them on a par with their southern neighbours, in point of domestic comfort and refinement, the improvement which we hinted at is essentially necessary. Proprietors who have lived in England ought to set the example in all the cottages and farm-houses which they build on their estates; and, when they arrange with their farmers to build dwellings for their yearly servants, it ought to be a condition that this appendage should not be wanting. Though we were aware of the state the country was in, in this respect, twenty-six years ago, we did expect to find it somewhat improved at the present day. We hardly think, however, that any improvement has taken place, and would most earnestly recommend the subject to the attention of proprietors, and to their factors, architects, gardeners and bailiffs.
