iv 



PREFACE. 



The period of a quarter of a century which has elapsed between the 

 publication of the two works has been characterised by remarkable 

 and singular changes, not only in the sources of production of many 

 of the staples, but in improved and largely-increased supplies. 



In a paper which I read before the Eoyal Colonial Institute in 

 January, 1874, on " Colonial Aids to British Prosperity, together 

 with a retrospect of the progress of our dependencies in the last 

 quarter of a century," I pointed out in considerable detail the great 

 value 'of our colonies in furnishing us with large portions of our 

 food supplies, and the raw materials for our manufactures, — as fields 

 for enterprise and the safe and profitable investment of capital, — 

 as homes for our surplus population, — as large customers for our 

 manufactures, — as affording active employment for our shipping, and 

 as outposts of defence, &c. 



The greater part of our distant possessions (India and the Colonies) 

 are situated in tropical or sub-tropical regions, and I may briefly 

 show the progress they have made in this quarter of a century, as 

 evidenced by the latest official returns available : 





1850. 



1874. 





178,338,667 



198,949,223 





£3i,875,307 



77,094,042 



Shipping, entered and cleared, tons 



10,521,526 



38,640,935 





£36,855,861 



155,192,931 





£34,348,941 



154,309,734 



If we make a retrospective comparison also of the condition of the 

 United Kingdom, we find, as regards commerce, even more marked 

 progress shown. How much indeed of the world's progress has been 

 affected by the influence of navigation and commercial intercourse; 

 and how much more may yet be carried out before the close of the 

 present century. 



The following figures mark the condition of the United Kingdom 

 at the two periods : 





1850. 



1875. 



Shipping, entered and cleared, tons 



27,674,353 

 £52,810,680 



14,505,064 

 £71,367,885 

 £100,460,433 



33,089,237 

 74,425,000 

 46,276,838 

 281,612,323 

 373,939,577 



The present work is not exclusively confined to agricultural pro- 

 gress in our colonies, for I have gone carefully over the different 



