A CORRECTION.
go THE EDITOR Or THE "SPECTATOR."]
Snt,--The writer of the paragraph in the Spectator of April 17th on the social status of the subjects of the Grand Dechy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin cannot have taken much trouble in verifying his statements. He must have consulted a book of reference at least half a century old. It is quite untrue at the present date that the Mecklenburg peasantry "differ very little in status from serfs," or that "they are liable to be flogged for neglecting work." As a matter of fact, many of the peasantry are free land-owners, resembling—but often superior as far as education goes—the English farmer. The " Tagelohner," or day-labourers, receive fair wages, and are as well-conditioned as the North-country 'hinds." There is no compulsion whatever exercised with regard to their leaving their employer ; the same laws of con- tract prevail as are universal in Germany concerning employer and employ& "Flogging" is reserved for criminals only. If the writer would like to ascertain correct facts, there is a fairly large amount of literature extant on the subject. He will find some very useful information in F. Wigger's " Das Verfassungsrecht im Grassherzogthum Mecklenburg- Schwerin," published in Berlin 1860; and in Von Freydorf's "Die Mecklenburgische Verfassungsfrage," Leipzig, 1877, and numerous others.—I am, Sir, &c.,
A MECKLENBURGERIN WHO KNOWS THE PEASANTRY OP NORTH ENGLAND AS WELL AS NORTH GERMANY.
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