Preface
We have collected in the present volume some essays and studies written during the last ten years. Each chapter deals with a separate subject, and is complete in itself. But the different chapters are not without bearing upon each other; and their common standpoint and identical assumptions may, perhaps, be considered to give the book a certain unity which it would otherwise lack.
We have corrected a few errors; brought the statistics up to date, and supplied additional footnotes and references. Otherwise, the chapters stand practically as they were written, with the characteristic imperfections of essays and studies done in the intervals of more sustained work. Some of the ideas here incidentally expressed will be found more elaborately treated in our History of Trade Unionism and Industrial Democracy. On the other hand, some of the points incident- ally alluded to in those works are more fully dealt with in these essays.
Certain of the chapters have appeared, in part, in the Nineteenth Century, Contemporary Review, Economic Journal and Quarterly Journal of Economics, and we are indebted to the editors for permission to reproduce them. The essay upon 'The Jews in East London' was contributed to Mr. Charles Booth's Life and Labour of the People, and our thanks are due to Mr. Booth for his consent to its inclusion in this volume.
Sidney and Beatrice Webb.
41 Grosvenor Road, Westminster.
March 1898.