THE NATION AND THE LABOURER. 39

We have, however, in the next place, to consider a
question of justice and injustice to individuals, in the
application of wealth possessed by the nation. Let us
suppose the whole of the individual components to be
divided into three classes unequal in numbers; a first
class A ; a second class B, much more numerous than A;
and a third class C, much more numerous than B. The
individuals composing the class A, we will suppose to be
possessed of great wealth, able to spend the whole of
their time in intellectual pursuits, in pleasure or in idleness.
 The individuals of the next class, (B), we will
suppose to be engaged in trade, commercial occupations,
manufacturing enterprises and professions, in which
pursuits they have to labour intellectually and in a lesser
degree physically, but they are able to surround themselves
 with the comforts and refinements of civilized life,
to rest from their labours at intervals, and, usually, for
the later part of their lives, to cease from labour and live
in rest and comfort ; leaving at their deaths an accumulation
 of wealth to their successors. The third class C,
have to labour physically almost incessantly; they are
excluded from intellectual pleasures and from most of
the comforts of civilized life. They are unable to
accumulate any wealth, and are able to provide only for
the daily expenses of their lives. Now the three classes
take stock together, as a nation, collectively, of their
possessions, their wealth, and their income; Class C,
then, addressing the other two classes, says to them..
‘Well, it appears that we possess an enormous amount
of accumulated wealth ; our annual income is so large as
to seem almost fabulous: now vou, Class A, have really