THE CUSTOMS REFORM. 177 



Under such a trial, the industrious spirit of our neigh- 

 bours was set to work. The causes which, since the intro- 

 duction of the Norfolk rotation, had occasioned a relative 

 inferiority in clay lands, once looked upon as the most 

 fertile, were carefully studied, and new systems have 

 arisen to effect a remedy. Besides the proprietors and 

 farmers interested, a new class of men took up the ques- 

 tion. These were the partisans of free trade. They under- 

 took to prove that, even under the worst circumstances, 

 the agriculture of the country could survive and prosper. 

 Commercial men purchased land for the express purpose, 

 in the most severely tried districts, in order to make all 

 sorts of experiments. The first results were not satisfac- 

 tory ; but by degrees the new principles developed them- 

 selves, and it may now be affirmed that clay lands are 

 destined to resume their ancient position. The English 

 rarely fail in what they undertake, because they carry 

 along with them a perseverance which nothing discou- 

 rages. 



In addition, the means adopted for transforming the 

 strong lands, seemed applicable, to a certain extent, to 

 the others ; and the improvements which necessity forced 

 upon some points, tend more or less to become general- 

 ised.' The entire soil will thus profit from the remedy, 

 without having equally suffered from the evil. 



Meantime the working classes have derived all the 

 profit they looked for in the lowering of prices, and are 

 content with it. What is no less worthy of admiration in 

 England than the spirit of concession in the one class, is 

 the expression of patience in the other. At one time it 

 was thought that wages would fall. Public opinion pro- 

 tected them, and they have been maintained. The labour- 

 ing classes have profited, therefore, by the whole fall in 

 the price of necessaries. It was also thought that the 



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