CHAPTER II. 



AN ENQUIRY (Coutiniied). 



Facts ai\d Figures for Speakers and Writers. 



The enquirer, wliether tariff reformer or anti- 

 tariff reformer, will, we venture to say, find tlie 

 statistics and facts in the present chapter of 

 interest, and we trust of value. They have not 

 been " selected " to suit the side of tariff 

 reform, but have been taken from official and 

 other reliable sources after exceedingly careful 

 research ; and if it happen — as is the case — that 

 they constitute a solid mass of material telling 

 practically all in one direction, we must blame 

 the facts — if blame at all — rather than the writer 

 of this work, who has simply found them by such 

 research as that referred to. 



Rural Depopulation. 



The number of labourers, farmers, &c., in 

 England and Wales occupied in agriculture was, 

 according to the official Census figures, as 

 follows : — 



In 1851 

 „ 1861 

 „ 1871 

 „ 1881 

 ,, 1891 

 „ 1901 



1,904,687 

 1,803,049 

 1,423,854 

 1,199,827 

 1.099,572 

 988,340 



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