348 LAND REFORM 



became more keen, and wages, both in town and 

 country, were kept low. Employment, in short, was 

 then, as it is now, and must ever be, the governing 

 factor in the welfare of the working classes. 



For several years, up to the beginning of 1843, 

 every branch of trade and manufacture was in a most 

 depressed condition, but towards the end of that year 

 a general improvement set in — an improvement which 

 continued, and steadily increased, for a great number 

 of years. 



The Queen's Speech, at the opening of the Session 

 of 1844, referred to the revival of trade. Her 

 Majesty's words were : "I congratulate you on the 

 improved condition of several important branches of 

 the trade and manufacture of the country." 



The improvement was so marked and rapid that in 

 1845, to repeat the words already quoted: "The 

 terrible depression which had at first given so poig- 

 nant an impulse to the agitation (Anti-Corn law) had 

 vanished. . . . Trade and commerce were thriving. 

 The revenue was flourishing. Pauperism had de- 

 clined." (Morley's "Life of Cobden.") 



The Queen's Speech, at the opening of the Session 

 of that year, stated: "I rejoice that I am enabled to 

 congratulate you on the improved condition of the 

 country. Increased activity pervades almost every 

 branch of manufacture ; trade and commerce have 

 been extended at home and abroad ; and among all 

 classes of my people there is generally prevalent a 

 spirit of loyalty and cheerful obedience to the law." 



Again, Her Majesty's Speech at the opening of the 

 following Session (1846) referred with satisfaction to 

 "the prosperous state of the revenue, the increased 

 demand for labour, and the general improvement 



