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    1140 THE LEADER. [Saturday,

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    AGRICULTURAL STATICS. Mr. Cobden tells t...

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    MR. BENNOCH'S TLAN. Of all the witnesses...

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    Church Polity : Our Position". We Have B...

    instead of being the fervid expression of vital truths ,. welling'up from the heart , and moulding the conduct of a life . From our point of view , the attempt to fix and crystalize religious truth in creeds and articles of faith is hot only a vain work , ' but a blasphemy on humanity- —a violation of the broad right of private judgment , which all sects claim for themselves , but not a , few deny to their neighbours . The attempt to arrest religious truth at a certain point , and to limit its source to one book , is one of the highest nights ever made by human

    arrogance . If science and thought in all ages have made one thing more certain than another , it is this : that truth comes to us , not alone from books , not alone from traditions , not alone from the intellect , not alone even from the heart . It enters through all the inlets of our physical , mental , and spiritual being ; and how arrogant the effort of the sects to confine it to a set of fragmentary chronicles of the history of an eastern tribe , and the subsequent struggles of a rising faith ! "VYho knows not the limitations of logic ,

    and who has not felt how short is the distance which it carries us out from " that side of our nature which is in contact with the infinite . " Religious ¦ truth , in all its fulness , cannot even be expressed in words—it can onl y felt ; and the utmost we can do , through the imperfect medium of language , is to set down approximations to the truth we feel and apprehend . The dogmatic religious sects , however , totally disregard this cardinal fact , attempt the impossible task of expressing absolute truth in approximate language , and then demand our absolute assent to it . The

    inevitable consequence of taking verbal standards is that which we now see—universal contention respecting their correct interpretation . JVor will that contention cease , until , through long and painful conflicts , men discover that religious truth is not limited to one book , but makes itself apparent coming in upon us on all sides , and approving itself to the highest and holiest dictates of the human heart . In those days there shall be no mechanical religions .

    1140 The Leader. [Saturday,

    1140 THE LEADER . [ Saturday ,

    Agricultural Statics. Mr. Cobden Tells T...

    AGRICULTURAL STATICS . Mr . Cobden tells the English manufacturers and operatives that they run a chance of losing trade in the competition , with America , because the Americans are better educated . But how much more the same remark must apply to the condition of our agricultural labourers . There is an education which precedes even that of the schoolmaster—a training of the mind and limb , which renders both efficient for the work in hand . Our agriculturists have heretofore relied upon the artificial protection of exclusive duties , and upon the natural protection which proximity to the home market gives them . The latter they retain ; but how can they take advantage of it r It has been their custom to consider that they could not "live" unless wheat were 049 . or more , and they actually have contemplated leaving this wealthy country to be supplied by wheat from abroad ; as if their natural protection were no real advantage- to them ! It seems never to have occurred to them that if they made a smaller per eentagc on a smaller price , still their income might be compensated by an increased gross amount ; , and by diminishing ihe cost of production . Their conduct has been such as almost to

    imply that ( hoy desired to make ; the produce email ami the cost groat . In order to reduce the cost of production labour must bo rendered as eilieient us possible , and the produce must be largo in proportion to the field whence it is derived . Tlio practice Ims been for tho farmer to o . jcupy more ground limn he had tho capital and tho skill or the industry to work thoroughly ; mid he bus treated his labour as if he did not cure whether

    it were dhciont or not . Amongst the subjects of the statistical enquiries promoted byLorclAshburtou an / I Mr . Philip Pusey , none- run ho of greater importance to tho development of agriculture and the prosperity of the fanner and landlord , as well as the conul ry , limn the state of the agricultural labourer . In order < o I'cuuhu-a . man ellieient to his Avork , lio should ho strong in limb , quick in lna perceptions , and trained in tho skilful use of his implement , if not instructed also in such science as

    enables him to appreciate the natural difliculticfl with which ho must contend . What , is tho state of the agricultural , labourer r We havo accounts . from all parts of the country : iu somo they represent llio labourer mh improving ; in others

    they show us how miserable the condition still is . Not long ago " A Dorsetshire Clergyman . began the statement of practical details under this head , in the Times , giving a financial statement for a week in a labourer's family : — '' The family consists of a father , mother , and four children , all under nine years of age . EARNINGS—OCT . 23 TO 29 . S . d . Father , as day-labourer . . . ... 8 0 Mother , by weeding , or milking ... 1 6 9 6 JEXPENDITURE . S . d . House-rent ( very moderate ) . . . . . 10 6 lb . of bread per diem , at 8 \ d . the 4 lb . loaf 7 5 | lb . of candles .. ....... 0 4 Soap , for washing linen ...... 0 4 loz . of tea . . . . . . . . . . . 0 3 9 4 Leaving l % d . for clothes , fuel , shoes , schooling of the children , and the father ' s benefit club subscription . The common necessaries of meat , cheese , and butter are out of the question . " This has been followed up by similar accounts from Somersetshire , Suffolk , ICent , Essex , and other agricultural counties . The rate , indeed , is not always level . In Kent wages range from 10 s . to 15 ^ . a-week , with extras during the hop season , ¦ which , perhaps , bring in 24 ? . a-week more . But the lower the level , the broader it is .

    There are , indeed , replies . " One of the Belled Dorsetshire Fanners , " gives an account of one family ; which , in wages to the father at 10 s . a-week . and to four sons , at rates ranging from 9 s . to 3 s . a-week , with house-rent , fuel , and a few extras , makes up a , total of 1021 . a-year , enough to bring the agricultural labourer within the income-tax . Sir Arthur Hallam Elton , an esteemed country gentleman of Somersetshire , represented that wages in his neighbourhood range from 9 s . to 10 s . a-week , with advantages in

    low house rent ( 4 Z . and 71 . a-year ) , allotment grounds— " which , are not uncommon , " and certain extras . The farmer , he says , cannot afford to pay higher wages ; for perhaps his landlord exacts too much . " The great want of our times , " according to Sir Arthur , " is such an education of the poorer class as will enable them to understand correctly their present position , " and "to use brain , as well as hands" in making the best of that position .

    There is some truth in this ; but it is more true , that it would be well for the employer to understand the position of the labourer . Although nine or ten shillings may be given in Sir Arthur Elton's district , six or seven shillings are given in others , the shilling being the equivalent of three pints a-day of hard cider , and rent being exacted to the amount of SL , 4 , 1 ., or 51 . a-year . But let us take , as a specimen of an agricultural district , an account given by a clever correspondent of the Coventry Herald and Observer , who has been taking ' " a peep at the social condition of Suffolk , in 1853 . " Wo shall take his description of two districts , Bacton and Crowfield : —•

    "I visited several of tho cottngea , and the appearance of tlio men gave mo a strong impression that as a class they were overworked and badly fed . There was a want of cheerfulness in their manner , and in . some casen a reckless disregard of prudent habits . When out of employment they relied upon parochial aid , and were insensible to the degradation of pauper relief . Tho women and elder girls went out occasionally to field work . Tho cottages were small comfortless places , having very often only one bedroom , and the families arc then crowded together ho ; ih to outrage all decency . Where adult boys and girls arc compelled to occupy

    the name sleeping apartment , can wo anticipate that the young women will exhibit much modesty , or thai , the men will have regard for tho decencies of life ? Tlio rents of those cottages wore four pounds per annum . They pnid no rates . Tlioro Avas generally a hi nail pioeo of garden , but many wore entirely without . I n tho parish of Crowfield , a few rnilcti from Stowniarkot , in an opposite direction to Dacton , I found 08 cottages , and only ono out of tho 08 had a quarter of an acre of garden ground . In ono case there were three cottages to eleven perches of land . There h about

    Huvontecn hundred acres of land in tho parifdi , and three-fourths of this quantity m the property of Sir W . F . ' . P . Middleton , Bart ., of tthrublaml Hall , a splondid modern mansion in the vicinity of ( Jrowfiold . ftir William , who in ono of tlio largcmt landownorH in tho county of Suffolk , generally inviton tho judgen to dino with him at tho Summer Ahh ' , and upooially entertained Princo Albert at tho Into meeting of tho Britifih AflHOoiation in thin dintiict . Tho landiH in Hinall occupations ; only ono of Sir William ' h tenants in thin pariah haf ) above 1 / iiO acron of land . 10 of thorn havo loHf ) than 100 acreo , ami i ) of thorn 3 «? bh than 50 ncren .

    They are poor tenants ; the land is undrained , and they have not the means of accomplishing so desirable an object , although there are plenty of labourers wanting employment . This wealthy proprietor has apparently forgotten that property has its duties as well as its rights , or at least , he would , expend a portion of his princely wealth in improving the land for his tenants , and prepare a small plot of his soil for the use of the labourers as allotments . The poor rate for thi 3 parish for the year 1852 , was Is . lOd . in the pound , whilst at Nettlestead it was only 8 d ., and at Willisham only 6 d . in the pound . The estimated rental of the parish of Crowfield is 27451 ., and the annual rateable value is

    26271 . " Will any stable-keeper tell us what would be the effect of keeping horses over-crowded , underfed , and untrained . A horse , however , is seldom required to think , and never expected to co-operate in processes like those of agriculture . It is evident , from the whole course of discussion , that much higher offices will he exacted from the farmer ; and the first instrument hi the hands of the farmer is the labourer . The farmer will be required to use machines , of which the present improved specimen must be considered only rude examples : let the farmer ask any iron or cotton manufacturer how he would like to entrust the

    working of a machine in the hands of a Bacton . labourer , ill-fed , untaught , untrained ? The Staffordshire or Lancashire men . will tell you that it would be to risk as much as the machine is worth . Mr . Philip Pusey shows how necessary it is for the farmer to increase the number of his stock , to improve their character , and to bring them forward rapidly for the butcher ' s market—a process which not only increases the farmer ' s means by the sale of a fourfold number of sheep for a given quantity of land ; but also , as Mr . Pusey observes , supplies the measure of the productivity of his land ; for stock under fattening supplies the productive force of the farm .

    But how much the condition of stock , and its value from hour to hour , must depend upon the zeal and care of the stock-keeper—sustained zeal as well as skill being the result of education , which teaches men to appreciate the objects of careful attention , and the worth of the process . It is not only the ploughing a straight furrow which the farmer will Jiave to exact from his labourer ; the man Avill also be expected to tend the stock with the care now expected in a master grazier , to tend machinery with an insight into mechanical laws , and , in short , to take a share in carrying on agriculture upon scientific principles . Upon such means depends , wholly and solely , that distinction between agriculture as it is to be ,

    and agriculture as it has been , which is to rescue the British farmer from tho " distress" to which he was doomed by protection and its demoralizing consequences . The condition of the labourer , therefore , should be as much the object of inquiry by the agriculturist as the condition of his musket to the soldier , his lancet to the surgeon , or lua running rigging to the mariner .

    Mr. Bennoch's Tlan. Of All The Witnesses...

    MR . BENNOCH'S TLAN . Of all the witnesses who have been examined by tlie Commissioners of Inquiry into the City Corporation , Mr . Bennoch , tlie common councillor , is tlie one who has presented the most consistent view of the actual state of the Corporation , and tlio most complete suggestion for a ncAV system is

    in lieu of the present . Tho present system condemned on two grounds . When wo apeak ot the present system , wo include not only the old Corporation in tlio City , but tho whole of the metropolis . Tho two grounds upon which tlio general system is condemned are these . J . no City Corporation , preserving many antiquated privileges , causes obstructions to the management of the town , to the trade of individuals ,

    and to the convonieneo even of private persons . On tho other , band , notwithstanding tho existence of an expensive municipality within a limiieu fragment of tho whole metropolis , and the ; P «« fl fJ organization in tho metropolitan boroughs tlio entire capital remains without a municipal m corporation suffieiont to manage its local ai ui « , or to reduce tlio groat metropolis to a roalwUoje . Tlio present system , therefore , in condemned Joi HiHiiMcioncy and for oppressiveness . Tho finance of tlio Corporal ion which at prorolormiriK

    sent exists in tlie City demands «« " Hovoral grounds of extravagance , bad levyii p aiul bud nimropriation . 'Ao e xtraaraganu >* apparent . Whifo tho Corporation of M « idi «* ° * acliniuiHtors a Hum of money amounting to »« " * . y half a million at an expense falling short ol JWW .,

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 26, 1853, page 12, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_26111853/page/12/