GENERAL PREFACE 



rilHE books in this Series deal with the industrial 

 and commercial condition of our country. Of the 

 importance of the subject there can be no doubt, for 

 it is the story of the material side of the life of a great 

 nation. British agriculture is the most enterprising in 

 the world; British manufactures, both textile and 

 hardware, are famed in all parts of the globe ; British 

 ships are on every sea and carry for other nations as 

 well as for ourselves ; and Britain, through the Banks 

 and Exchanges of London, is the centre of the money 

 market of the world. 



It has been well said that material needs cannot 

 be neglected or forgotten with impunity in this world. 

 Just as a man must have bread to eat if he wishes 

 to enjoy life, so a nation needs material prosperity if 

 it is to be of real influence in the world. Industrial 

 and commercial prosperity does not, in itself, constitute 

 greatness, but it is a condition without which national 

 greatness is impossible. Hence, the story of the in- 

 dustrial and commercial condition of Britain is worth 

 telling to our school children, not only that they may 

 rejoice in our country's progress, but, also, that they 

 may realise the responsibilities borne by the citizens of 

 the first of all nations. 



G. F. B. 



591460 



