"It should be noticed that these comparative statements refer in the three first decennial periods to families, but upon the present occasion to individuals. The latter mode gives a more accurate view of the amount of employment afforded in each division of labour; but inasmuch as there are rather more of the younger branches of a family employed in trade and manufactures than in agriculture, it may have slightly augmented the difference here exhibited. The other facts shown by these returns are, however, so much in accordance with these results as to confirm their accuracy."
"Thus," said the Morning Chronicle, "the agricultural class comprises less than one-fourth of the people, and it is stationary in point of numbers, while the other sections of the populatian are rapidly increasing from year to year. Can anything more clearly demonstrate the folly of legislation which checks the development of the only kind of industry which is found to be capable of expanding with the multiplication of labourers? Is this to go on for ever? The foundation of that vast system of manufactures and commerce by which so many millions are maintained, is the interchange of manufactured goods for raw products. The great check upon our prosperity is the increasing difficulty of obtaining those raw products. With respect to the essential article food, we deliberately enhance the difficulty for the sake, professedly, of this agricultural class, which is every year losing some portion of its relative importance. Is it possible, when the numbers on the one side and on the other are now authoritatively stated, that this grievous injustice can be suffered to continue? The injustice would be palpable, even if all those engaged in agriculture could be said to benefit by what is called agricultural protection; but when we know that they, like every other class, are interested in having the chief article of consumption abundant, we can hardly use language strong enough to condemn the nefarious policy which so openly sacrifices the many to the few."
There was a cessation for several weeks of public manifestations on the part of the League. The harvest had
