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Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow TALLOW17 May 1823 - The Works and Correspondence of David Ricardo, Vol. 5 Speeches and Evidence

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TALLOW17 May 1823 - David Ricardo, The Works and Correspondence of David Ricardo, Vol. 5 Speeches and Evidence [1819]

Edition used:

The Works and Correspondence of David Ricardo, ed. Piero Sraffa with the Collaboration of M.H. Dobb (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2005). Vol. 5 Speeches and Evidence 1815-1823.

Part of: The Works and Correspondence of David Ricardo, 11 vols (Sraffa ed.)

About Liberty Fund:

Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.


TALLOW1
7 May 1823

Mr. Curwen presented a Petition from the Butchers praying for the imposition of a duty on foreign tallow.

Mr. Ricardo was not exactly aware of the nature of the measure which the Hon. Gentleman had in contemplation; but if it was to be similar to that of last year,2 he had no hesitation in saying, that the remedy would have no other effect than the imposing of a heavy burthen upon the people of this country without any advantage to the revenue; and therefore he hoped that the House would deal with it as before.

Sir T. Lethbridge complained that British farmers could not compete with the prices of tallow imported from Russia.

Mr. Ricardo characterised this as one of the measures which aimed at putting money into the hands of the landed interest by taking it out of the pockets of the rest of the people. The landed interest had already too many regulations in their favour. For instance, the commercial interest had to pay five per cent. upon all property transferred upon the death of the owner; and this was not required of the landed interest.

[1 ]This debate is not mentioned in Hansard. Ricardo’s speeches are here reprinted from the report in the Morning Chronicle.

[2 ]See above, p. 146.