The Agricultural Labourer. 7&d = .503 
During this dark period the virtues of prudence and of thrift 
'in almost to have died out among the labouring classes. The 
xious weed of pauperism had indeed supplanted the natural 
)\vth of self-reliance and self-respect. Accustomed in every 
fling emergency to depend upon the rate, farm-labourers 
turally found it more and more irksome to assert their man- 
lod, and more difficult to establish their claim to a sufficient 
i ndard of wages, whilst they still clung to their hold upon the 
] rish allowances. I have felt compelled to allude to this period 
( their history, because I believe it affords a clue to whatever 
1 s been defective in the condition of the English labourers from 
t it time until the present. But I wish to point out, with Scotland 
I erence to what has been before said, that in Scotland no such exempt from 
titom as this ever established itself. There, collections at the ^'^'^ customs, 
circh doors were, as a rule, found adequate for the relief of the 
sk and indigent ; but in seasons of special difficulty the farmers 
I I and voluntarily assessed themselves for this purpose. In 
t Lothians — then, as now, one of the most highly cultivated 
(itricts of the kingdom — the most needy were unwilling to 
a ept the necessary alms to ward off starvation. This remark- 
ae independence of character made itself felt not only over 
S'tland, but extended over her southern border, and gave 
ti he labourers of the most northern English counties a dis- 
t -tive freedom which is still noticeable, and which widely 
S' arates them from those of the south. 
3ut other causes have also been at work which have extended 
tl advantages of the northern over the southern labourer. The 
V t development of manufacturing and of mining industry which 
h distinguished the last fifty years has been almost confined 
t( he north of the kingdom. Before the days of railways it was 
n easy matter for the low-paid southerner to transfer his labour 
t( istricts where he could command increased wages. Moreover, 
w'l every inducement to early marriage, the tendency was 
citinually to overstock the labour market. The result has 
bia a scale of wages in southern England which compares but 
bfly with that ruling in the north, and which has no doubt 
giin a lower tone to the work and the character of those who 
re ived it. 
'hese preliminary observations will, I hope, make it plain 
tt; the farm-l'abourers of Great Britain differ to a considerable 
ej-nt, even at the present day, in their general characteristics 
ai in the amount of wages which they receive. The southern Process of 
laiurer is not vet equal to the northerner in wage-earning ''^'^°'P'^'°°,°^ 
T»T -^i T ^ , r • •! 1 . surplus labour 
caicity. Nevertheless, the process of assimilation between gradual. 
. the two distinct types is every day proceeding. Railways 
ai constantly transferring unproductive labour from one district 
3 F 2 
