Reverting to the illustration of the gang of 100 prisoners, and supposing it were requisite to put them on hard labor equivalent to half "Frankland's unit" of 10 stone raised 10,000 feet-such, for instance, as carrying up ladders, altogether 1 1/6 mile high, 3 tons of stone daily-calculation would show that to add this amount of labor to the outgoings caused by the functioning of physiological life would involve the addition to their spare diet of at least 117 pounds of bread, or of 58 pounds of bread with 44 pounds of lean meat and 63 pounds of potatoes. The slightest imperfection or indigestion of any of this would cause a loss of bodily weight, and cases of illness would be culpably frequent. "Were a draught of milk, or a cup of cocoa and sugar, or some oatmeal porridge and treacle, or even a little dripping or butter or bacon, given, the danger would probably be averted.

The most conspicuous fault in the dietary of the working classes is want of variety. Many of the articles which combine ample nutri-tiousness with small cost are habitually neglected, because, when used exclusively, they are disagreeable and unwholesome. From never being eaten they become absolutely unknown. There are many sorts of cheap beans, vetches, and peas, unheard of except at gentlemen's tables, of which a complete meal may be made, or which may support the dish of meat; while beet-root, cresses, kail, carrots, and other plants easily grown, are left unused.