FISCAL POLICY AND AGRICULTURE 349 



which has taken place in the internal condition of the 

 country." 



The most eminent economists of the time — strong 

 free-traders — were emphatic in attributing to want of 

 employment the suffering and destitution which had 

 previously prevailed. They were equally clear in 

 showing that the improvement in the condition of the 

 people was secured by the general increase of trade 

 which began long before the policy of free imports 

 was adopted, and was the result of causes quite inde- 

 pendent of that policy. 



Mr. Tooke, writing of the state of things which 

 existed during the years 1839 to 1847, refers to the 

 "transition from distress and despondency pervading 

 all branches of industry in the years 1841, 1842, and 

 part of 1843 to a state of extraordinary prosperity 

 and activity which prevailed through the three follow- 

 ing years. "^ 



It is directly contrary to the facts, and therefore 

 simply absurd, to ascribe this improvement to the 

 repeal of the Corn Laws, which did not come into 

 operation till six years later. 



Steam-vessels, built and registered in the United 

 Kingdom and the colonies, " doubled in tonnage 

 between 1839 and 1849." With regard to railways, 

 "the sums authorized by Parliament to be raised for 

 the construction of railways averaged ^21,966,860 

 per annum for the four years 1842-5, and ^47,567,355 

 per annum for the four years 1846-9." (Porter's "Pro- 

 gress of the Nation.") 



Mr. Tooke also refers at length to this rapid de- 

 velopment of our railway system, and says : " The 

 direct consequences of railway expenditure of the 



1 Tooke's "History of Prices," Vol. IV. 



