CONDITIONS

OF

SOCIAL WELL-BEING

OR

INQUIRIES INTO THE MATERIAL AND MORAL POSITION

OF THE POPULATIONS OF EUROPE AND AMERICA,

WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THOSE

OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND

BY

DAVID CUNNINGHAM, F.S.S., M. INST. C.E.

AUTHOR OF TABLES FOR FACILITATING THE CALCULATION OF EARTHWORK IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAYS, ROADS, ETC.'

LONDON: PRINTED BY

SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE AND PARLIAMENT STREET

CONDITIONS

OF

SOCIAL WELL-BEING

OR

INQUIRIES INTO THE MATERIAL AND MORAL POSITION

OF THE POPULATIONS OF EUROPE AND AMERICA,

WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THOSE

OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND

BY

DAVID CUNNINGHAM, F.S.S., M. INST. C.E.

AUTHOR OF TABLES FOR FACILITATING THE CALCULATION OF EARTHWORK IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAYS, ROADS, ETC.'

PREFACE.

It is my endeavour in the following work to describe some of the principal influences that have affected, and now affect, the position and prospects of the populations of Europe and America, with particular reference to those of Great Britain and Ireland, and to indicate the nature of those social conditions which appear to be the most healthy.

The numerous facts brought forward have been carefully selected from a vast mass of materials; and, though it is possible some of them may be found to be inaccurate, the principles propounded, which necessarily are based on larger considerations, will not, I hope, be invalidated thereby.

It is necessary to acknowledge my great and especial indebtedness to various series of Government Blue Books, particularly to the extremely valuable and interesting Reports upon the Tenure of Land in the several countries of Europe, and to those respecting the condition of the Industrial Classes in Foreign Countries. I have also made considerable use of M. Maurice Block's admirable works, L'Europe, Politique et Sociale,' and 'Statistique de la France comparée avec les divers pays de l'Europe.'