left me from those eight years of instruction miserably small. I could write a legible hand, and could read ordinarily well. I knew the meanings of a quantity of words, and was able to do a few of the hundreds of sums in arithmetic, which at school had been done with rapidity. In fact, I have not to complain that I was not taught enough, but that I was taught too much; the mind was crammed, day after day, with lessons no sooner repeated than almost immediately forgotten. I never acquired any knowledge of grammar or of elocution at school; they were not considered, or, at least, were not taught, as indispensable elements of education. Whenever grammar came in my way, which was rarely indeed, I seemed to have an inherent disliking for it; I could not then see the utility of it; and my numerous schoolmasters never explained, or particularly cared, whether I knew its rules or not.

When I left school, which was in my fourteenth year, I was sent to work at a paper mill in Hertfordshire, where my parents were then residing, and received the sum of three shillings a week. I continued in this mill for about twelve months, the best part of which time I was working in what was termed the drying loft. This loft was heated by steam to a temperature excessively hot. Day after day I felt the effects injuriously acting on my system, and had long determined to quit. I tried all accessible means to obtain another situation, so as to avoid the necessity of throwing myself out of employment, but was unsuccessful. I remember, along with another boy, making ap.. plication to Sir Granville Ryder, then M.P. for Herts, to obtain an engagement at sea, for which I had a strong passion, but was again unsuccessful, and was sadly disappointed in consequence, for my imagination was continually presenting to my mind glowing pictures of a sea-faring life, which my later experience has proved to be both wild and visionary. A circumstance, however, quickly decided a journey to London on foot, a distance of about twenty-two miles. One morning all of the boys, including myself, working in the drying loft were discharged; some of the cards had been soiled, through the sweat of our hands, which was unavoidable; and women were to do the same work in the sall, a place at once healthy and cool, whilst for reasons I am unable to discover we were compelled to work in a place almost as hot as an oven.

I had been in London for the space of a fortnight, wandering about penniless, but not houseless, for I was staying with an aunt in the neighbourhood of Islington, unable to obtain any employment. I knew not what course to pursue, for I had clandestinely deserted my home, and therefore was most miserable, as I could not stay much longer with my aunt, who would not have afforded me shelter at all had I not concealed from her the reason of my presence in London. One morning, when I was inadvertently puzzling my brains with the course to pursue, I was surprised by a visit from my father, who had discovered my abode, and who took me home again, after slightly reprimanding me for desertion of duty. Some little time after I was again employed at the mill in a different capacity, which was no better paid, but which was free from the attendant evils of my former occupation.

At the age of sixteen I was apprenticed to my father, in another mill belonging to the same employers. During that period my leisure time was almost wholly absorbed in model making. I made several model steam engines, one of which I succeeded in getting amongst the models exhibited at the Polytechnic Institution in London, and was much pleased at receiving a free admission ticket during its stay. Previous to this time my mother died, and certain family arrangements necessitated me to leave home, and exist on my own resources. My income at this time was only six shillings a week, independent of what I could earn by making overtime.

When I left Hertfordshire I found myself again in London, where I was more successful (having a trade in my hands) than before in obtaining employment. But it did not long continue. Trade during that time was unusually dull, and many causes, such as my inexperience, my want of friends, and my youthful appearance, served to prevent me obtaining employment for some considerable time. During an interval of sixteen months I only obtained between four and five months' work, after travelling to Manchester, Halifax, Bradford, Leeds, Hull, and back to London. The small engines I had made during my apprenticeship were sold at intervals at less than half their value, and had the effect of preventing much suffering; but I endured enough of want during that long time, with few friends to whom I could willingly apply for that assistance

adversity renders needful. I had relations who were comparatively well to do in the world, and who could easily have supplied me with enough money to prevent absolute want, but I troubled them little. I found no sympathy, but, on the contrary, harsh and uncivil remarks heaped upon me. I, therefore, wounded in spirit, willing but unable to obtain work, endured in silence. Strangers on some occasions were generous and true friends; at other times bitter and severe foes. Sometimes I would scarcely taste food for the whole day, and often travel six or eight miles to a particular shop in hopes of employment, and find the gate insolently slammed in my face. Since that time I have often wondered how I could have endured, not only the social evils attendant on my helpless position, but the dull and fearful workings of the mind, produced by the aspects before it, and yet remain honest. Yes; thank God! I can reflect on that, the dullest portion of my history, with satisfaction. I never despaired. Hope ever lent her radiant wings to bear my imagination to brighter and more congenial prospects. The lessons of practical morality I had acquired at home and at school were strongly developed, and, however circumstances might depress, would stimulate my mind with boldness and perseverance.

In the year 1850 my attention was directed to the study of society, and its various political, religious, and social arrangements. I attended lectures, and read much on the subject, and soon became an ardent advocate, amongst my private acquaintance, of the principles of co-operation. Having obtained employment, I became a member of a Mechanics' Institution, in the City Road, and took part in the weekly free discussions held by its members.

In the latter part of the year 1851 I attempted the composition of poetry, for which I had ever a warm admiration. From my earliest recollection I would repeat sweet and exquisite snatches of poetry which I had gleaned from miscellaneous magazines and journals that happened to fall in my way. During the same year I was married to Miss Louisa Short, of Aldbury, a small village in Hertfordshire. We had been warmly attached to each other for the space of four years previous to our marriage, which took place thus early in consequence of the severe loss sustained by Louisa in the death of both her

parents, who died within three weeks of each other, leaving her in the wide world without the means of support.

About that time I became a member of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, and felt, in consequence, greater security for the future, for, should sickness or want of employment come, I was certain of ten shillings per week for a considerable time; but, fortunately, things were more propitious: I was less out of employment than I had previously been. I found my wife the same affectionate, enduring, and struggling creature married as when single. Our courtship had glided amidst the sunshine of hope and the darkness of care uninterruptedly. We loved, and our fates were inseparable from the first, as they are now to the last.

The struggle of the Amalgamated Engineers for the abolition of piece-work and overtime soon afterwards took place. I remember nothing in the history of my life that had such a powerful influence on my mind as that struggle. I read, with the deepest interest, whatever appeared in the newspapers either in favour of or against it; and, although I had never taken any part in bringing it about, I was enthusiastically confident of success attending our cause. My sympathies were favourable to the men, not so much that I was one of their number as that I had sadly experienced the necessity, during the time I had been out of employment, of some better system than the prevailing one, where, to my own knowledge, numbers had been working eight or nine days per week, whilst hundreds, like myself, had been compelled to wander from town to town, oftentimes houseless and penniless, in search of that employment which, under a fairer system, might at all times be accessible. During that struggle I was led more attentively to the study of the relations of Capital and Labour, and, by its ultimate defeat, was led to the conclusion that strikes are not the best means of obtaining justice, but rather produce ruinous results to both parties. I am free to confess, that strikes are the inevitable results of oppression, and that oppression is the inevitable result of the system of society, which teaches the power of creating wealth independent of all moral or religious consideration. Entertaining this view, I have endeavoured at all convenient opportunities, to the best of my abilities, to advocate the principles of co-operation, which I believe can only

be successfully carried out through the conditions of moral and intellectual philosophy.

During the commencement of the dispute I was working, but soon afterwards was discharged through slackness, and was, in consequence of the struggle, necessitated to remain idle many weeks. It soon became evident to most of us that we must suffer a defeat. The money had been gradually diminishing, and consequent dissatisfaction prevailed. One by one men returned to their work. But one thing, and one thing only, prevented myself and many others from following their example. The Associated Employers produced a document, which no man possessed of independence of spirit could sign, without it were to prevent the sacrifice of his dearest and tenderest connections. Many of those brave-hearted men who would not submit to the despotism of the document, and who had the means, deserted their country for America and other lands. I hope sincerely long ere this they may have been amply rewarded for their noble adhesion to the integrity of principle. For myself, I had resolved never to sign. I knew what I had already suffered rather than sacrifice my honesty, and was determined to desert my country, or even my trade, should the worst come, sooner than submit my hand to a paper which would at once make me a social and moral slave. I collected what money I could raise with the intention of going to America, but the amount was not sufficient for the purpose, and, what I did obtain, was eventually absorbed in a chandler's shop in the neighbourhood of Clerkenwell. I was in business there three months, when, failing to succeed, I gave it up, finding myself, in a pecuniary point of view, something worse than when I started. But, however, I was working again for my former employer, who had not taken any part in the dispute, and things began to look brighter.

I look upon the maintenance of those higher principles of the mind, which stamp the character with integrity and manhood, as of infinitely more value than the continually increasing prosperity which comes directly through adapting one's self to every circumstance favourable to success, regardless of conscience or duty; therefore I look at the unsuccessful termination of my business career as of little importance, since the time I was engaged in it served to save me the degradation of the document.