began in 1878, and is still increasing in energy in 1886.

{269} The agricultural labourers have now a Trade's Union; their most
energetic representative, Joseph Arch, was elected M.P. in 1885.

{272a} Report of the Poor Law Commission upon Ireland.

{272b} "Principles of Population," vol. ii.

{273} "The State of Ireland." London, 1807; 2nd Ed., 1821. Pamphlet.

{276} Carlyle gives in his "Past and Present" (London, 1843) a splendid
description of the English bourgeoisie and its disgusting money greed.

{286} Extracts from Information received from the Poor Law
Commissioners. Published by authority. London, 1833.

{293} To prevent misconstructions and consequent objections, I would
observe that I have spoken of the bourgeoisie as a _class_, and that all
such facts as refer to individuals serve merely as evidence of the way of
thinking and acting of a _class_. Hence I have not entered upon the
distinctions between the divers sections, subdivisions and parties of the
bourgeoisie, which have a mere historical and theoretical significance.
And I can, for the same reason, mention but casually the few members of
the bourgeoisie who have shown themselves honourable exceptions. These
are, on the one hand, the pronounced Radicals, who are almost Chartists,
such as a few members of the House of Commons, the manufacturers Hindly
of Ashton, and Fielden of Todmordon (Lancashire), and, on the other hand,
the philanthropic Tories, who have recently constituted themselves "Young
England," among whom are the members of Parliament, D'Israeli, Borthwick,
Ferrand, Lord John Manners, etc. Lord Ashley, too, is in sympathy with
them. The hope of Young England is a restoration of the old "Merry
England" with its brilliant features and its romantic feudalism. This
object is of course unattainable and ridiculous, a satire upon all
historic development; but the good intention, the courage to resist the
existing state of things and prevalent prejudices, and to recognise the
vileness of our present condition, is worth something anyhow. Wholly
isolated is the half-German Englishman, Thomas Carlyle, who, originally a
Tory, goes beyond all those hitherto mentioned. He has sounded the
social disorder more deeply than any other English bourgeois, and demands
the organisation of labour.

{296} And it did.

***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CONDITION OF THE WORKING-CLASS
IN ENGLAND IN 1844***

******* This file