290 SELFISHNESS OF ENGLISH LABOURERS. 



States. Whatever we may think of their abstract justice, 

 it is easy to recognise in them that greater influence 

 of the female sex which, among the visible peculiarities 

 of their social state, is one of the first which is perceived 

 by an Anglo-Saxon from Europe. 



This greater influence will not be without good fruits to 

 the happiness of the humbler classes of American society, 

 if it prevent the establishment among them of that very 

 melancholy state of things which prevails among the work 

 ing-classes in this country as to the state of their earnings. 

 &quot; It has been computed that, among those whose earnings 

 are from 10s. to 15s. weekly, at least one-half is spent 

 by the man upon objects* in which the other members 

 of the family have no share. Among artisans earning 

 from 20s. to 30s. weekly, it is said that at least one-third 

 of the amount is in many cases thus selfishly devoted.&quot; 

 American society might consent to submit to many evils 

 arising out of excessive female influence, if it can save 

 itself from the spread among its skilled labourers of such 

 unchristian and selfish and ruinous habits as these. 



While on the subject of the laws of the State, I may 

 advert to a mode of canvassing for office, on the part of 

 eminent lawyers, to which custom would no doubt, after 

 a time, reconcile even an English barrister or a Scottish 

 advocate, but which, with our prevailing opinions and 

 sensitiveness, would scarcely be descended to by men of 

 high standing at present. 



1 have, in a former chapter, spoken of the popular 

 election of judges of all grades in this State a custom 

 introduced by the amended constitution of 1846. The 

 Attorney-general is in like manner elected by popular 

 suffrage at a general election, and holds office for two 

 years. 



Most of the reading public of this country who interest 



* What Mr Potter, from whom I make this extract, very properly 

 calls &quot;self-imposed taxation&quot; 



