DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1311#0029
OF THE WORLD'S INDUSTRY. 19
and his family. Mr. W------, seated in his arm-chair, then opened the Bible, out of
which some chapter was read, and then all kneeled together. After prayer the domestics
took their form with them, and the family commenced their meal. Every one here
respects his fellow-man—the masters their servants, and the servants their masters.
There is neither familiarity nor haughtiness. On all hands there is little talk, but a
great deal of business. Mr. W------conducted us across the fields over all his grounds.
Would that your agricultural friends could make this journey! Here they would
see what agriculture is; what an admirable, methodical, and analytical art, replete
with charms, agriculture is; how the soil is kept free from extreme wet and extreme
drought by means of drainage; how the pulverable manures, such as guano, are depo-
sited by a machine around each grain of corn which is sown in the ground; how the
fodder is pressed to avoid fermentation; how hay and straw are mixed, &c. &c.
Over immense surfaces of ground, all the plots devoted to special culture are enclosed iu;
everywhere there are small wooden or iron, barriers, well closed by means of ingenious
and economical latches; double-sided mangers, racks, stables, cattle-sheds, and dairies,
of admirable cleanliness, the windows of which are cleaned every day. People con-
descend to reside here, sir; they know how to draw profit and happiness from the
fields, and the fields are not unjust. The truth is, with us Paris is everything; we are
nailed to it by the two most irresistible influences—those of politics and of women—•
may heaven forgive them ! But I trust there are yet good days in store for agriculture,
and that the republic will render the residence of towns so hateful, that we shall be
compelled to go for peace and soft emotions to the country.
. Another trait of English manners is, that the greater part of the men who are engaged
in agricultural pursuits are generally instructed and enlightened in all matters of political
economy. Mr. W------possesses not only a rare collection of agricultural implements,
but also an excellent library. All the farmers in this country are acquainted with
the progress of chemistry or botany, of mechanical science, and of horticulture. They
will therefore have less difficulty in emerging from the torpor in which the corn-laws
have plunged them, inasmuch as they will ouly have to bring forward in the present
reign of competition that knowledge which, under the past reign of protection, they
suffered too often to slumber. The inevitable results of the abolition of the corn-laws
would appear to be further applications of science to agriculture, or a diminution in the
rents of the landed proprietors. That portion of the rents, which was levied by means
of the corn-law upon the wages of the operative, will be reduced, to the benefit of the
farmer; and perhaps the latter, discovering new processes to augment the profits derived
from the land, will be able to pay the same rent as heretofore. In that case, nobody
would be a loser by the change, and the benefits of cheap living would be opened to
the working classes without diminution in the incomes of the landlords. Mr. W------
expressed the idea ingeniously by saying, <e~We shall turn our land and our brains to
hetter account, that's all; and it is free-trade which will have accomplished the pro-
digies." Thus, experience proves every day that the abolition of the bread tax will
only further have developed the productive powers of this country. The working
classes who have become larger consumers, owing to their ability of living cheaply, react
on agricultural productions by larger demands. They consume more meat, cheese, milk,
butter, vegetables, simply for the reason that they can buy their bread cheaper. In
future, only a portion of the corn will be drawn from foreign sources, in exchange for
English goods, and England will supply the remainder. Do not laugh at these vulgar
expressions and material details—humanity lives upon good soup, and not on fine words,
even according to Moliere, and the prohibitionists would be only too glad to put us raj
bread and water, if they found it to their interest to do so. .....
and his family. Mr. W------, seated in his arm-chair, then opened the Bible, out of
which some chapter was read, and then all kneeled together. After prayer the domestics
took their form with them, and the family commenced their meal. Every one here
respects his fellow-man—the masters their servants, and the servants their masters.
There is neither familiarity nor haughtiness. On all hands there is little talk, but a
great deal of business. Mr. W------conducted us across the fields over all his grounds.
Would that your agricultural friends could make this journey! Here they would
see what agriculture is; what an admirable, methodical, and analytical art, replete
with charms, agriculture is; how the soil is kept free from extreme wet and extreme
drought by means of drainage; how the pulverable manures, such as guano, are depo-
sited by a machine around each grain of corn which is sown in the ground; how the
fodder is pressed to avoid fermentation; how hay and straw are mixed, &c. &c.
Over immense surfaces of ground, all the plots devoted to special culture are enclosed iu;
everywhere there are small wooden or iron, barriers, well closed by means of ingenious
and economical latches; double-sided mangers, racks, stables, cattle-sheds, and dairies,
of admirable cleanliness, the windows of which are cleaned every day. People con-
descend to reside here, sir; they know how to draw profit and happiness from the
fields, and the fields are not unjust. The truth is, with us Paris is everything; we are
nailed to it by the two most irresistible influences—those of politics and of women—•
may heaven forgive them ! But I trust there are yet good days in store for agriculture,
and that the republic will render the residence of towns so hateful, that we shall be
compelled to go for peace and soft emotions to the country.
. Another trait of English manners is, that the greater part of the men who are engaged
in agricultural pursuits are generally instructed and enlightened in all matters of political
economy. Mr. W------possesses not only a rare collection of agricultural implements,
but also an excellent library. All the farmers in this country are acquainted with
the progress of chemistry or botany, of mechanical science, and of horticulture. They
will therefore have less difficulty in emerging from the torpor in which the corn-laws
have plunged them, inasmuch as they will ouly have to bring forward in the present
reign of competition that knowledge which, under the past reign of protection, they
suffered too often to slumber. The inevitable results of the abolition of the corn-laws
would appear to be further applications of science to agriculture, or a diminution in the
rents of the landed proprietors. That portion of the rents, which was levied by means
of the corn-law upon the wages of the operative, will be reduced, to the benefit of the
farmer; and perhaps the latter, discovering new processes to augment the profits derived
from the land, will be able to pay the same rent as heretofore. In that case, nobody
would be a loser by the change, and the benefits of cheap living would be opened to
the working classes without diminution in the incomes of the landlords. Mr. W------
expressed the idea ingeniously by saying, <e~We shall turn our land and our brains to
hetter account, that's all; and it is free-trade which will have accomplished the pro-
digies." Thus, experience proves every day that the abolition of the bread tax will
only further have developed the productive powers of this country. The working
classes who have become larger consumers, owing to their ability of living cheaply, react
on agricultural productions by larger demands. They consume more meat, cheese, milk,
butter, vegetables, simply for the reason that they can buy their bread cheaper. In
future, only a portion of the corn will be drawn from foreign sources, in exchange for
English goods, and England will supply the remainder. Do not laugh at these vulgar
expressions and material details—humanity lives upon good soup, and not on fine words,
even according to Moliere, and the prohibitionists would be only too glad to put us raj
bread and water, if they found it to their interest to do so. .....