which it was developed in the Marney Union; but then he would
add that there was no district except their union in which it
was properly observed. He was tremendously fierce against
allotments and analysed the system with merciless sarcasm,
Indeed he had no inconsiderable acquaintance with the
doctrines of the economists, and was rather inclined to carry
them into practice in every instance, except that of the
landed proprietary, which he clearly proved "stood upon
different grounds" to that of any other "interest." There was
nothing he hated so much as a poacher, except a lease; though
perhaps in the catalogue of his aversions, we ought to give
the preference to his anti-ecclesiastical prejudice: this
amounted even to acrimony. Though there was no man breathing
who was possessed with such a strong repugnance to
subscriptions of any kind, it delighted Lord Marney to see his
name among the contributors to all sectarian institutions.
The vicar of Marney, who had been presented by himself, was
his model of a priest: he left every body alone. Under the
influence of Lady Marney, the worthy vicar had once warmed up
into some ebullition of very low church zeal; there was some
talk of an evening lecture, the schools were to be remodelled,
certain tracts were actually distributed. But Lord Marney
soon stopped all this. "No priestcraft at Marney," said this
gentle proprietor of abbey lands.

"I wanted very much to come and canvass for you," said Lady
Marney to Egremont, "but George did not like it."

"The less the family interfered the better," said Lord Marney;
"and for my part, I was very much alarmed when I heard my