1882.] 
On Technical Education . 
473 
well remarks, “ for educational reformers to draw up an en- 
ticing plan of study, including the whole field of human 
knowledge; but the practical teacher knows how little is 
gained by making a thousand shallow scratches on a pupil’s 
mind, which only confuse and erase each other, — knows 
that, if you would bring living water from the depths of his 
nature, you must sink one deep shaft at least.” 
That we are entering upon a struggle with other nations 
more severe than has previously occurred all fa6ts and figures 
go to prove. Mr. Mulhall remarks, in his “ Balance Sheet 
of the World” — “ In 1880 the industries of Great Britain 
attained a point never before reached in this or any other 
country, but if we compare the progress made during the decade 
we shall find it was less than in the interval from i860 
to 1870, and much less than in the United States during the 
ten years now under consideration. But although this is 
probably the last time that Great Britain will occupy the highest 
rank in the industrial nations of mankind, there is no symptom 
of decline, no diminution in force or energy to cause us any 
anxiety. . . . There is but one industry, agriculture, in 
which we have lost ground, the advance of all the rest being 
so great that the aggregate for 1880 shows an increase of 
337 millions sterling. . . . Commerce has not risen so much 
as in the previous decade, . . . nor does mining show the 
same advance. Manufactures have grown less than any 
other branch of national increase. . . . Banking and ship- 
ping exhibit an enormous development. This,” he observes, 
“ is the more remarkable, as the balance of trade against 
Great Britain has increased in a degree that some economists 
consider alarming, viz. — 
Imports 
Millions Sterling. 
A 
1870. 1880. 
305 414 
Exports 
242 
278 
Surplus imports ... 
63 
136 
Thus the balance of trade against us was 25 per cent in 
1870, and 49 per cent in 1880. This is, however, rather an 
indication,” he states, “ of prosperity than the reverse, since 
we see that until 1840 our exports were more than our im- 
ports ; and Russia and Spain have the balance in their 
favour, and are steeped in poverty.” 
It does not follow that because Russia and Spain have the 
balance of trade in their favour, and are nevertheless steeped 
in poverty, that it is an indication of our prosperity that the 
VOL. iv. (third series). 2 1 
