244 THE LENCHES.

the labourers singularly sober, industrious, and thriving, a drunken man being seldom or never seen within the parish. It is observable, too, that the church is well filled - not mainly with old people, who go there from a conviction that their time in this world is short, but a large proportion of the congregation consists of young men, desiring to learn how best to do their duty in this life. Another peculiarity of the district of "The Lenehes" is its woodland feature, affording a fine natural cover for game, but with the exception of the Due d'Aumale none of the landowners preserve much; and if the Duke rears annually a large number of pheasants, to his credit be it said that he is extremely liberal in giving them away during the shooting season. Foxes breed and are numerous, and here are frequent meets of the Worcestershire hounds, but great difficulty is found in driving "Mr. Reynard" from the woods into the open country, and hence it is often a disappointing meet; the country, too, is heavy to ride over. The soil is generally a stiff clay, but by dint of burning and draining, it is now made to produce good crops of wheat and beans. In Rouse Lench the soil is much lighter. The population ia almost entirely agricultural, but a few of the labourers' wives take in gloving. There were 422 souls in the parish of Church Lench in 1861 ; acreage, 3,365. In Rouse Lench, 306 inhabitants; acreage, 1,420. Among the landowners are the Due d'Aumale, Sir C. W. Rouse-Boughton, John Winnall, Esq., and W. K. W. Chafy-Chafy, Esq.

It is decidedly worth a visit to Rouse Lench to see the ancient mansion of the Rouses (the family whose name was added to the parish), wherein the present worthy Baronet takes up his abode for several months in the year. The Rouses' connection with this estate dates from Henry III. The last of the race died a century ago, when the estate passed by will into the hands of the Boughtons - an old Shropshire family, owners of a very fine estate at Bownton Hall, near Ludlow. The grandfather of the present Sir Charles converted the ancient manor-house at Rouse Lench