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211.: ricardo to malthus1 - 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.

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

About Liberty Fund:

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211.

ricardo to malthus1

My dear Sir

This morning I intended that my letter to you to day should inform you that I would have the pleasure of passing next saturday and sunday with you at Haileybury, but a circumstance has taken place which will make it necessary for me to go to Bath on friday next,2 from which place I shall again return to London early in the next week.

As you say you will not be in town till after Easter perhaps it will be convenient to you to see me at Haileybury on saturday sen’night. If so I shall be with you on that day, at your dinner hour, and if I do not hear from you before, I shall conclude that you have no engagement which will render my visit inconvenient.—

I mean this day to put the last of my papers in the printers hands, and hope he will be able to finish the printing before my visit to you, but of this I have some doubt, as he does not proceed regularly at the same even pace.

I agree with you that after having so often heard your opinions, in contradiction to mine, it would not be of much use just now when my book is actually in the press to enter again on your reasons for differing with me. I did not send you the manuscripts with any such intention, I merely wished you to see that part which related to you before I published, that I might not inadvertently misrepresent your1 statement. I cannot have the least objection to insert the note you mention,2 although I cannot but regret that we should differ so much as to the just and fair import of the words real price. When you see my book altogether you will not perhaps differ from me so much as you now think you do. You may, and I believe will, object to the correctness of many of my terms, as they will appear to you fanciful, and not always properly applied, but making allowance for such deviations you will I am sure agree with much of the matter. On some points indeed there is no difference between us, and on others our chief disagreement would be in the mode of representing them.

I have written this letter at intervals between other engagements as I have been repeatedly interrupted. I now hear the post man’s bell and must hasten to conclude

Very truly Yrs.

David Ricardo

[1 ]Addressed: ‘Revd. T R Malthus / East India College / Hertford’.

MS at Albury.—Letters to Malthus, LVIII.

[2 ]Ricardo’s departure for Bath was delayed till Monday, 31 March, as is shown by the following extracts from two letters written by Whishaw, in London, to Thomas Smith, at Easton Grey:

2 April 1817, ‘I accompanied Ricardo on Saturday [29 March] to Holland House. He seemed pleased with his visit. His book is coming out immediately.’

4 April 1817, ‘I write only to say that Mr. Ricardo has just concluded a treaty for the marriage of his son Osman with some lady whom the young man met at Bath, and who, I believe, is of a Warwickshire family. I have not heard her name, but Binda says they are highly pleased with the connection. Mr. Ricardo went down on this business to Bath on Monday [31 March], and returned yesterday morning. Tomorrow [Easter-eve], I believe, he will join our party at the College. It cannot be said that Ricardo has been improperly influenced, as to the principles of population, by his intimacy with Malthus. He will enjoy the blessing of Abraham, and may expect to see a tribe of grandchildren and great-grandchildren round his table’ (The ‘Pope’ of Holland House, pp. 180–81). Osman Ricardo was married to Harriet Mallory on 22 May 1817.

[1 ]‘opinions’ is del. here.

[2 ]See above, I, 415.