DIGITISED MANUSCRIPTS

( 27) not only to any part of the country, but to the most distant Colonies of the Empire, and exchange a pre- carious existence for a life breezy, full of novelty, enterprise, adventure, and promise of success. I have no hesitation is saying that one of the most fruitful promoters of the well-being of the working classes is the development of the press. The state of the newspaper press of Great Britain at this moment is one of the wonders of the age. It is not only formidable as a literary and political weapon, but as an eminently cultivat- ing, beneficent, and useful agency. The penny news- paper opens out channels of instruction and in- formation—and by information I mean practical and technical information—which were closed to former generations. It affords at a minimum cost to any artisan and labourer in the kingdom practical knowledge and information of almost every kind. It forms his judgment on the political questions of the day, which by his vote he has the power of influencing ; it acquaints him with the most recent improve- ments in agriculture and every species of trade, whilst offering to his mind an easy survey of the daily history of the world. I believe I shall not be trespassing unduly on your time by briefly sketching the history of the press.