The following nine articles are "Speculations," by no means altogether recommendations. They are from Political Economy, i.e. they have nearly all of them been suggested by considering mere propositions of Political Economy. Some of them are old, or given me by friends: some are, I believe, new: these many persons will set aside as unpractical or impracticable, as that is the approved word by which people indicate that an idea is new to them. The topics of the nine articles have been largely taken from those now under political discussion, but they can hardly be called ephemeral; and, though they do not form a treatise, they will hardly be called disconnected. As they are speculations, no trouble has been taken to work out suggestions in detail, or give the "shillings and pence" correctly.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

SPECULATIONS FROM POLITICAL ECONOMY

1. EFFICIENCY OF LABOUR.

2. RECIPROCITY AND RETALIATION.

3. UNIVERSAL FREE TRADE.

4. THE RANSOM OF THE LAND.

5. MAKING THE MOST OF OUR LAND.

6. FREE TRADE IN RAILWAYS.

7. REFORM IN LAND LAW.

8. EQUALISING OF TAXATION.

9. WEALTH OF THE NATION.

SPECULATIONS FROM POLITICAL ECONOMY