“ In some doggrel lines he reproves the local folly of guising, stigmatises a recent song as "base scurrility" and "lies," and adds—
"If Eccles has faults, Barton has the same;
Wisdom it will be not each other to blame."
The origin of Eccles guisings he understands to be, that "Mr Chorlton, of Monks Hall, had some men getting marl, and it being a custom for the general part of the neighbours to give some little to these men to drink, which enables them to go through that hard labour with cheerfulness, was a sort of foundation for the above custom. ”

“ Like England and America do make a great noise:
Be wise, for it only diverts our girls and boys.
Price threepence." In his preface, the writer, who speaks of having visited other countries, and being now at a low ebb, says, "Having lived in the parish of Eccles for the last eight months (1777) , I have had some opportunity of making some remarks of the customs, manners, and behaviour of the inhabitants of the said parish, not only to strangers, but to each other, which behaviour I shall treat upon, together with some remarks upon the folly of guising. ”

“ They were probably lent for the hour, and returned to the pockets of the owners, except so much as may have been extended in horse-hire and other expenses, and in ale, &c., for the feast with which these pageants seem to have terminated. ”