We commence to-day the publication of a short series of
papers on the prospects of the English labourer in America. They are condensed by their author from a report made by him to the Society of Arts, who sent him out to examine the question thoroughly. He had most unusual opportunities of information, having been accredited equally to the Bureaus and to the work- men, and his general opinion may, we believe, be summed up thus : —The English mechanic gains little or nothing by emigra- tion, except the chance of a good gratis education for his children. The unskilled labourer gains, in addition, a great increase of wages, of comfort, and of liberty ; while the agricultural labourer may be said to gain everything. His report on the free schools is less favourable than usual as to results, the " grounding " being, he believes, decidedly insufficient. That is just what " payment by results " ought to secure for us here.
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