text:  The worthlessness of the colonies is argued upon the figures which show that of the total exports of the United Kingdom but one-third is absorbed by them whilst two-thirds are taken by foreign markets; therefore it follows not that the colonial trade is by 50 per cent less important than foreign but that relatively it is not only of no importance at all but by all the amount an absolute prejudice: such at least is the rule-of-three logic of the Cobden school as viz