been a rise in the scale of living of the middle class, together with a diminished intercourse between masters and workmen; while vast fortunes have multiplied, and idle luxury more than ever flaunts itself exasperatingly before the hungry eyes of poverty. The social Ghauts which sever the rich from the poor are quite as high and perpendicular as ever. Nevertheless, there has been an improved temper in the relationship, and the toiling masses do not look up with the former rancour at the classes seated upon the heights.
Human nature shrinks from contemplating disagreeable things, even in prospect; and we are all prone to believe in the permanency of any state of affairs which is agreeable or useful to us. But it must be borne in mind that improvements in social condition are not like progress in industrial invention or physical science, which is bound to endure and increase. Prosperity, however produced, creates contentment; while it lasts, grievances are little thought of. It is suffering that is the touchstone of the social fabric; and, further, a social condition satisfactory in one age becomes inadequate, intolerable, in a subsequent one. Historical writers of the recent generation have held that the condition of the common people in England was at its best in the middle of the last century; but that did not prevent the first half of the present century witnessing a wholly different state of things. Down to 1850, the urban labouring population cherished so bitter a feeling against their betters that, in heart at. least, and sometimes by actual demonstration, they were in a state bordering upon political and social insurrection. During the last thirty years this insurgent feeling has disappeared. Legislation has done much to produce this change, and the growth of the Social Sentiment (as we shall show) is doing still more. Nevertheless, it must be remembered that the change has been favoured by exceptional events; for, in 1851, this country, and indeed the whole world, entered upon the most remarkable epoch of prosperity which has ever visited mankind, an epoch which, literally as well as metaphorically, may be styled the New Golden Age. On the other hand, during the last three years the country was subjected anew to hard times, even the stars in their courses were fighting against us; and the attitude of our people has presented a happy contrast to what it used to be in the periods of distress previous to 1851.
But has there really been a parallel to the national suffering which bred riot and sedition in the old times? Unlike almost every other such period of national distress, it is not