ITS EFFECT ON WAGES. 



189 



at adequate wages, and not only cheap breads but also cheap 

 meat for the people ; showing, from the result of successful 

 experiments, that, through the cultivation of flax, the fattening 

 of cattle with native produce, box-feeding and summer grazing, 

 three bullocks and three sheep may be fattened where only one 

 of each was kept before ; and that it did not require a very 

 profound calculation to discover, that a triple quantity of manure 

 thus obtained would produce a corresponding increase in the 

 productions of the earth, the price of which is immaterial to the 

 farmer, provided he is remunerated, as is oftener the case with 

 a plentiful crop and a low price, than with a scanty one and a 

 high price. I rejoice that measures are being adopted for a 

 vigorous extension of the above system through every part of 

 the kingdom. Already much progress has been made, and I 

 look forward with renewed confidence to no very distant date, 

 when the manufacturer shall not have cause to complain that 

 the high price of the common necessaries of life prevents his 

 successful competition with foreign markets. 



I cannot avoid expressing my surprise that those who profess 

 so much sympathy for, and who depict so truly the horrors con- 

 sequent on, non- employment, should attempt to thwart measures 

 that would at once obtain the desired relief — should offer their 

 vague and empty theories in opposition to solid and permanent 

 benefits; — rejecting the good within their immediate reach in 

 order to grapple with phantoms which never fail to elude their 

 grasp — ^liolding out to starving mortals the blessed prospect, 

 that with " six shillings a week" a man is to maintain himself 

 and family, and fare sumptuously upon provisions drawn from 

 foreign resources, to the encouragement of foreign farmers, and 

 to the employment of foreign labourers. To such monstrous 

 propositions mine are diametrically opposed. They have been 

 often recorded, and centre in the desire to advance the rate of 

 wages, maintain the value of British property, and preserve 

 that proud position in the scale of nations which we have so 

 long enjoyed, recognising to the fullest extent that portion of 

 British property which the poor man alone possesses — viz. his 

 labour. In support of these principles a National Association 

 has been formed ; to co-operate in the designs of which the 

 above lines are offered as an invitation. 



