London to John G 1 Groat's. 231 



forward on the road of improvement as the Govern- 

 ment or people, or both, can set him. The rest of the 

 way upward and onward he must make by his own 

 industry, virtue and economy. From this point he 

 must work out his own progress and elevation. No 

 Government, nor any benevolent association, nor general 

 nor private benevolence, can regulate the rate of his 

 wages. The labor market will determine that, just as 

 the Corn Exchange does the price of wheat. But there 

 is one thing he can do to raise himself in civil stature, 

 moral growth and domestic comfort. He may empty 

 the Jug into the Basket. He and his family may 

 consume in solids what they now do in frothy fluids. 

 They may exchange their scanty dinner of cold bacon 

 and bread for one of roast beef and plum pudding, 

 by substituting cold coffee, cocoa or pure water for 

 strong beer. Or, if they are content to go on with 

 their old fare of food, they may save the money they 

 expended in ale for the rent of one or two acres of 

 land, for a cow, or for two or three pigs, or deposit it 

 weekly in the Post-Office Savings' Bank, until it shall 

 amount to a sum sufficient to enable them to set up 

 a little independent business of their own. 



Here, then, are three great steps indispensable for 

 the elevation of the agricultural laborers of Great 

 Britain to the highest level in society which they can 



