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congratulation and consolation to find " that amidst 

 the numerous difficulties to which agriculture in this 

 country is exposed, and amidst the distress which 

 unhappily exists, that the general condition of the 

 agricultural labourer in full employment is better 

 now than at any former period, his money wages 

 giving him a greater command over the necessaries 

 and conveniences of life :" but it is only the la- 

 bourer in full employment. It will be well, indeed, 

 if the labourers in full employment are enabled to 

 continue in this improved condition, and if those 

 not fully employed could be brought into this hap- 

 pier state; that the whole body of the peasantry 

 might gradually emerge from that depth of poverty 

 and pauperism into which they had been precipi- 

 tated. Furnish them with employment give them 

 such wages as will enable them to live decently and 

 comfortably, afford them the means for the im- 

 provement not only of their physical, but also of 

 their moral state, and then, and not till then, they 

 will be brought back to the more respectful, provi- 

 dent, and industrious habits of their forefathers ; 

 and though by the progress of society in wealth, 

 luxury, and knowledge the simplicity of character, 

 which once belonged to the peasantry, is destroyed, 

 we ardently hope that their conduct may be regu- 

 lated by higher principles, which will lead them 

 to endeavour to perform their duty to themselves, 

 to their families, to their country, to their King, 

 and to their God. 



Still, we may cheapen provisions and raise 



