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By the way； this “Winter Pilgrimage” is； I think； unique in one respect： the first half of it was published serially after the last had already appeared。 The managers of the Queen newspaper； who had agreed to bring out all the portions of the book which dealt with the Holy Land in this form； found the instalments so popular among their readers that they asked to be allowed to print the remainder； which dealt with Italy and Cyprus。
Before I pass to the subject of “Rural England” I will dwell for a moment upon my only novel with a purpose； which appeared about a year previous to my journeyings in the Near East。 It is called “Doctor Therne；” and deals with the matter of the Anti…Vaccination craze — not； it may be thought； a very promising topic for romance。 I was led to treat of it； however； by the dreadful things I had seen and knew of the ravages of smallpox in Mexico and elsewhere； and the fear； not yet realised； that they should repeat themselves in this country。 It was a dangerous move。 Said the Lancet：
In conclusion we must mend Mr。 Haggard’s courage in thus entering the lists against the Anti…Vaccination party。 As a novelist and a politician alike it is evidently to his advantage to take no step that would be likely to alienate him from any large body of possible supporters。 Yet he has risked losing many readers and creating a fanatical opposition to whatever he may do in a public or private capacity for the sake of telling the truth。
Although so different in matter and manner from my other works； this tale has been widely read； and will in due course appear in one of those sevenpenny editions which have bee so popular of recent years。 I dedicated it （without permission） to the Jenner Society。 The Executive mittee of this society on December 22； 1898； passed a warm and unanimous resolution thanking me for the work。
Of “Rural England；” the heaviest labour of all my laborious life； there is really not very much to say。 There it is。 I shall never forget the remark of my daughter Dolly； a young lady with a turn for humour； when these two great volumes — they contain as many words as would fill five novels — arrived from Messrs。 Longmans and； portly； blue and beautiful； stood before us on the table。 “My word； Dad！” she said； “if I had written a book like that； I should spend the rest of my life sitting to stare at it！”
I confess that before all was finished I was inclined to share in this opinion。 What a toil was that！ First there were the long journeys； one of them took eight months without a break； though； happily； that summer was very different from this more disastrous year of cold and floods； 1912。 Then there were the articles for the Daily Express and Yorkshire Post； which must be pleted in my spare time； sometimes at midnight； of which I wrote more than fifty。
I do not think I could have pleted the task at all without the assistance of my friend Mr。 Arthur Cochrane； who took the notes while I did the talking； and also helped very much in the preparation of the series of agricultural maps。 These maps； I regret to say； it was found impossible to include in the cheaper edition because of the cost of reproducing them。
But making the investigations was not all。 After these came the writing of the work itself； whereof the articles only formed the foundation。 This occupied the best part of another year of most incessant and careful application； for here every fact must be checked。 It was the very antithesis to that involved in the position of novels； where the imagination has free play。 Here I may add that of the recorded results of these hundreds of interviews and statements made upon the individual authority of the persons seen； or from observation of the matters investigated； not one wrong。 The manager of the Great Eastern Railway took exception to some of the carriage rates quoted by an informant； for which I was not responsible。 Also one gentleman who had invited me to inspect his farm spoke of “minor inaccuracies and blemishes” in the account I gave thereof。 In nearly twelve hundred closely printed pages that； I am proud to say； is all。
The work was well received； although of course there were those who found fault。 Everyone has his own ideas as to how such a thing should be done； though those who try to do it are few indeed。 I too had my idea； which was to arrive at the truth out of the mouths of many witnesses。 I desired to set down the facts as they were at the beginning of the twentieth century； not as they had been in the past or would possibly be in the future； or as people with various theories and political views would like to see them。 I wished to preserve a large body of incontestable evidence for the benefit of future generations。 Since that day things； I am glad to say； have changed a little — not very much — for the better； and if I were to undertake such a task afresh — which Heaven forbid！ — I might write otherwise on certain points。 But I tried to draw a picture of our agriculture and rural conditions in the twenty…seven counties that； with the Channel Islands； I visited； which should be true and faithful to the circumstances of the time。
Some； of course； were angry with me because I did not advocate Protection as a remedy。 Others of a different school were angry because I pointed out that Free Trade had wrought enormous damage to British agriculture； and that this same Protection； if it could be established； would go far to repair that damage。 As a matter of fact； I began my travels a believer in Protection。 By the time I had finished them； rightly or wrongly I came to the conclusion that it was not feasible in England — a view which； during the last ten years or so that have elapsed since the publication of “Rural England；” little has happened to controvert。 Indeed； I still hold that Protection； or Tariff Reform； which is so widely advocated by the followers of Mr。 Chamberlain； is a heavy stone tied round the neck of the Unionist dog； and one which it will find makes swimming difficult in our political waters。
I elaborated these views in a speech I made some months after I published “Rural England” at the Framlingham Farmers’ Club； which speech has often been quoted since that time； when； it will be remembered； Mr。 Chamberlain’s proposals were very much before the country。
Well； Mr。 Chamberlain’s trumpet； which has been echoing through the land for the last ten years； has not yet shaken down the Free Trade walls； though it is possible that by the time these lines are read it may have done so。 I cannot tell； nobody can tell except the Great Disposer of events。 I can only put things as I see them。 At any rate the point that I believe I was the first to place before the public in the above speech； although others took it up soon afterwards； is sound and clear。 I can see no escape from the conclusion that； if food…stuffs are to be admitted to our markets practically free； while other imports are taxed； our agriculture must suffer to a terrible extent。 The same thing applies； if in a less degree； to the admission of food…stuffs without impost from the constituent parts of the British Empire。 It would make little difference to the British farmer； in these circumstances； whether the corn or the meat came in free from India and Canada or from Russia and the Argentine； if at the same time he had to pay more for his implements； his clothing； and every other article of daily life； and； as a consequence； a higher rate of wages； while he only realised the old low prices for what he had to sell。 For； be it remembered； the British manufacturer peting with the foreign…made articles would certainly raise the cost of his output till it equalled； or almost equalled； the price at which such foreign articles could be profitably sold to the British consumer。
At first my hopes of any tangible result of my labours were bitterly disappointed。 Thus； when in January 1906； a little over three years later； I wrote a preface to a new edition of “Rural England；” I find myself saying：
I wish I could add that I was able to point to any tangible fruits of its publication。 This； however； I cannot do。 Personally； I have made every effort to bring the reforms urged in its pages to the benevolent notice of those in authority。 At some private cost I have inflicted upon them copies of these expensive volumes and been favoured in return with polite notes of thanks。 I have interviewed certain of them who wished to receive me。 I have neglected other work in order to travel up and down the country addressing every kind of meeting and explaining my views； in short； of would…be agricultural reformers； I may say almost； that I have “laboured more abundantly than they all。” Now after four years are gone by I must with humiliation report that nothing of any consequence has happened。
It is true that at one time I hoped that the great extension of parcel post privileges which； under the title of an Agricultural Post； I urged so earnestly in the interests of small holders； would pass into the region of acplished fact。 In February 1903 I wrote a letter on this subject to Mr。 Hanbury； and I give an extract from his answer：
House of mons： February 18； 1903。
Dear Mr。 Haggard； — I should have answered some days — or wee