Slaney on Rural Expenditure. 57 



years, the rate of the wages of a manufacturing labourer, 

 with all its fluctuations, will be found very much above the 

 average rate of an agricultural labourer during the same pe- 

 riod. 



Our last position, that while rents and the value of land 

 have been increasing, and the country and all other classes 

 improving, the condition of the agricultural labourer has been 

 retrograding, it is equally unnecessary to make out by direct 

 and elaborate detail. We have proved that the present wages 

 of the agricultural labourer give him the command of a smaller 

 portion of the necessaries of life than his ancestors possessed 

 one or two centuries ago; and thus we have proved that he 

 has been retrograding. Of what other class of society can 

 this be proved ? Of what other class can it even be proved that 

 they have been stationary during the last two centuries ? 

 Of what other class can it not be proved that they have been 

 advancing ; that they have the command of comforts or luxu- 

 ries unknown or inaccessible to their ancestors ? 



The real and effective wages of agricultural labour have 

 fallen within these two centuries. Is not the case of rents and 

 the price of land notoriously the reverse of this ? The agri- 

 cultural labourer at present obtains a smaller proportion of the 

 produce of his labour than he did two centuries ago : though 

 an acre of land that he tills produces twenty-four bushels in- 

 stead of twelve, or wheat instead of barley or rye, he is not 

 benefited by this greater or this more valuable produce. 

 What is the case with the landlord? If his land, which 

 formerly produced twelve now produces twenty-four bushels, 

 or which formerly produced barley or rye now produces wheat, 

 do not his rents increase, at least in an equal proportion with 

 the increased value of the produce ? Contrast the dwellings, 

 dress, mode of living, fortunes, &c of the farmers of the present 

 day with what they were one or two centuries ago ; and see 

 what a change for the better ! Compare the dwellings, food, 

 and general condition of the agricultural labourer of the pre- 

 sent and former days, and see what a falling off has taken 

 place ! 



Contrast the immense wealth of the country at present, as 

 exhibited in all that can administer to the necessaries, com- 

 forts, and luxuries of life, with its wealth two centuries ago ; 

 all allow a most extraordinary increase; but among whom 

 has this increase been distributed ? A small portion, a very 

 small portion, indeed, among the agricultural labourers : 

 though they have contributed their share to its creation, very 



