

16 ROMNEY MARSH AND EMHAXKMEXT OF THAMES. PART T. 



leisure and enjoying liberty ; not very enterprising nor 

 very laborious ; taking things easy. But the growth of 

 a healthy population, confined within a limited territory, 

 gradually stimulated them to increased effort, and brought 

 out their full working energy. The climate was 

 favourable to labour, and patient industry was the in- 

 heritance of the race which held possession of the soil. 

 By degrees its native riches were brought to light: it was 

 abundantly stored with the best raw materials, stone, 

 lime, clay, coal, iron, and the useful metals ; but, best of 

 all, it was peopled with strong, hardy, willing men. 



The land was too full of natural wealth, and lay too 

 near the powerful military nations of Europe, to be held 

 by a weak or idle people. It was large enough for 

 independence, and, though limited by its coast-line on 

 all sides, contained within it the elements of almost 

 boundless expansion. It lay anchored by the side of 

 Europe, in the watery highway between north and 

 south, with its chief navigable river, the Thames, 

 offering a convenient access to ships from every port. 

 By persistent industry the land was gradually trans- 

 formed. Year by year, and century by century, the 

 people went on improving it. From a pasture-range it 

 became a corn-farm and a garden ; and alongside of 

 agriculture there grew up handicrafts, trades, and manu- 

 factures, by which its rich raw materials were worked 

 up in all manner of tools, machines, and fabrics. The 

 powers of nature were laid under contribution, and 

 wind, water, and steam became the allies and servants 

 of man. Bridle-paths were superseded by wheel-roads ; 

 rivers were dug out and deepened, or used to feed arti- 

 ficial channels of water-communication ; and from a land 

 of horse-vehicles it became one of steam-trains and iron 

 railroads. All branches of agriculture, trade, and manu- 

 facture, advanced with accelerated pace, until England 

 has become the world's school of industry and the world's 

 workshop. 



