“We will have a glass of ale,” said my father, ringing the bell; “and then you shall tell me as much as you like, and leave the rest for Carey in the morning. We must drink prosperity to Brooke, and many a merry harvest home.” “There _is_ prosperity in Brooke,” said the sergeant, as he set down his glass. “If any of my neighbours pretend to doubt it, and point out one or two who take parish relief, or two or three who seem to be going down in the world, I shew them the cottages on the common, well thatched and clean white-washed, with their gardens behind them. I count numbers, and prove that our population has increased one-half. I shew them the school-house and the shops, so much busier than they used to be; and the new carrier’s cart to M——, and all the improvements in the place.” “I am heartily glad to see, sergeant, that you relish these changes; for men at your time of life do not generally like them.” “It all depends, sir, on what the changes are. I am thankful that I have lived to see so many poor neighbours gathering their comforts about them; and I shall be all the more ready to go to my grave if I see a fine, thriving race of young folks rising up to do more good in the world than I have done. And if they think of me sometimes, I hope they will remember,” he continued, addressing my brothers, “that their old friend looked to them to fulfil his hearty wish of Prosperity to Brooke.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------ _Summary of Principles illustrated in this Volume._ We have not advanced to any new principles of the science of Political Economy in the present volume. We have only exemplified some of the principles laid down in our last volume by illustrations of certain truths respecting a few particular modes of accumulating and applying Capital. These truths may be arranged as follows: PRODUCTION being the great end in the employment of Labour and Capital, that application of both which secures the largest production is the best. Large capitals well managed, produce in a larger proportion than small. In its application to land, for instance, a large capital employs new powers of production,—as in the cultivation of wastes; .... enables its owner to wait for ample but distant returns,—as in planting; .... facilitates the division of labour; .... .... the succession of crops, or division of time; .... .... reproduction, by economizing the investment of fixed capital; .... .... the economy of convertible husbandry; .... .... the improvement of soils by manuring, irrigation, &c.; .... .... the improvement of implements of husbandry; .... .... the improvement of breeds of live stock. Large capitals also provide for the prevention of famine, by furnishing a variety of food; and for the regular supply of the market, by enabling capitalists to wait for their returns.