36 BALANCE OF INDUSTRY. 



of time an eye-witness only to England's 

 prosperity and greatness. Sufficient evidence 

 is already afforded us, to the contrary, that 

 every citizen of the Continent is preparing to 

 reach to the privileges of Englishmen ; and to 

 practise every branch of national industry which 

 we practise. We cannot for a moment wish 

 the labouring population of the Continent of 

 Europe to remain any longer in their present 

 condition. The peace and prosperity of the 

 world require the contrary. We wish them 

 British freedom and British liberty to become 

 our faithful neighbours, and honest rivals, co- 

 equal in every respect. 



The improvement of the manufacturing and 

 commercial interest of this country may be 

 effected to a certain extent, at present, without 

 materially meliorating our agricultural. This 

 can always be done, so long as the circumstances 

 of the former are inferior to those of the latter. 

 For instance, full employment to the 10,000 

 idle operatives in Manchester would not affect 

 the condition of the agricultural labourers of 

 Lancashire. But if more than the unemployed 

 hands of the manufacturing districts of this 

 country were required, and if the agricultural 



