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Front Page  Titles (by Subject) 164.: crombie to ricardo1 - The Works and Correspondence of David Ricardo, Vol. 7 Letters 1816-1818
164.: crombie to ricardo1 - David Ricardo, The Works and Correspondence of David Ricardo, Vol. 7 Letters 1816-1818 [1816]Edition used:The Works and Correspondence of David Ricardo, ed. Piero Sraffa with the Collaboration of M.H. Dobb (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2005). Vol. 7 Letters 1816-1818.
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. Copyright information:First published by Cambridge University Press in 1951. Copyright 1951, 1952, 1955, 1973 by the Royal Economic Society. This edition of The Works and Correspondence of David Ricardo is published by Liberty Fund, Inc., under license from the Royal Economic Society.
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164.
crombie to ricardo
Sir
Major Torrens has done me a favour, by sending you a copy of my pamphlet. Had I been aware, that a production of so little value would have been acceptable, I should have the pleasure myself of requesting your acceptance of a copy.
Nothing, Sir, believe me, would give me more uneasiness than to misrepresent thro’ inadvertence, either publicly or privately the opinion of any gentleman, especially of one, who treats his opponents with the candour and liberality of Mr. Ricardo. If you admit, that there was a great demand for guineas,—if you admit, that there was a scanty supply, and if you affirm, that the guinea, notwithstanding, did not rise in value, it appears to me, that I have not misrepresented your statement. But, if you deny either of the two first positions, or do not assert the last, then I own, that I have misunderstood, and misrepresented your sentiments. I conceive, that, if this subject were disentangled from some perplexities, in which it is unfortunately involved, that there would be no diversity of opinion, respecting it: and if I can command as much leisure, as I have inclination, I intend to examine with attention, and analyse your pamphlet, containing, as I conceive, almost every thing of importance on the other side. If I should have time to accomplish this, the analysis shall be submitted to your examination. There are some points, I fear, on which we cannot agree; and it becomes a question, which of the contending parties have the more correct notion of the points in controversy. I cannot assent to your notion of depreciation, nor to the standard of value, which you desire to establish—In regard to the ideas, annexed to the expressions “cheapness” and “dearness[”] of gold, I think it evident, that we do not in fact differ so much, as you imagine, and that, consistently with your own theory, we must each come to the same conclusion at last.
I return you, Sir, many thanks for your friendly invitation; but our friend Major Torrens will tell you, that I seldom or never dine from home, except during the holidays.
Believe me respectfully Sir Your most obedtAlexR Crombie Greenwich 1st May 1816 Dav. Ricardo Esq
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