ABSTRACT
Henry Fawcett was raised in an affluent middle-class liberal family in Salisbury. In the time of the Tudors, the weekly wages of ordinary labourers would enable them to purchase twice as much wheat and meat as would the wages of a similar class of labourers at the present time. Philanthropic institutions continue to unfold the same tales of dire distress. The most characteristic feature in the social condition of this country is the fact that all classes of labourers depend for their remuneration upon the capital which has been accumulated by others. The practical success of co-operation has been already sufficiently proved to warrant the establishment in every town and village of shops or stores similar to those at Leeds and Rochdale. The working classes are very generally impressed with the belief that they are somewhat imposed upon; that they pay high prices for bread and grocery; and often do not get a good or pure article for their money.
