243.: ricardo to say1[Reply to 241] - David Ricardo, The Works and Correspondence of David Ricardo, Vol. 7 Letters 1816-1818 [1816]
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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.
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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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243.
ricardo to say
[Reply to 241]
Gatcomb Park, Minchinhampton Gloucestershire 18 Decr. 1817
My dear Sir
Your letter, which was directed to my house in London, was not forwarded to me here before wednesday last, which will account to you for the time which will have elapsed between your writing it, and receiving my answer.
Since you were in England I have been gradually withdrawing myself from business, and as our debt is so enormously large, and the price of our funds appeared to me high, I have from time to time withdrawn my money from the funds, and have invested a large portion of it in landed property. When I was in France, and since I left it, I have been tempted by the low relative price of the French Funds to invest another portion of my money in the French 5 pcts. and Bank Actions, so that at present I have really the command of comparatively a small sum of money from which it would be exceedingly inconvenient for me to part.—I regret therefore that I cannot comply with the request contained in your letter.—I hope however that you may speedily meet with some other friend who may be able to supply you with funds which it appears probable from the statement you have given me, you could employ both to his and your advantage. My life has been one of success, but of anxiety, and I am endeavouring so to arrange my affairs, that I shall have no cares for the future, respecting pecuniary matters.
Our friend Mill is just about publishing a work, on which he has been employed for some years, on India. With his acknowledged talents every thing that comes from his pen must be interesting, and instructive; but in the present instance, I trust, that he will be found to have surpassed the expectations of his warmest friends, and sincerest admirers. The work is printed and will soon be ready for delivery. He has favoured me with an early copy, and I have read rather more than half the first volume. I only hope that he may make the same impression on the minds of those who are competent judges of literary merit, that he has made on mine. His views on the subjects of Government, Law, Religion, Manners are profound; and his application of these views to the actual, and past state of Hindustan, with a view to ascertain the validity of the claim which has been set up for them for high civilization, appears to me to be most masterly, and cannot I think be refuted.—I hope you will have opportunity and leisure to read and give your opinion of this highly interesting book.—
The esteem for your excellent book on Political Economy is daily increasing in this country, and only because it daily becomes [better] known. It has been lately reviewed with mine in the British Review, and due respect has been paid to its merits. My work has not been so fortunate, for the reviewer has found abundant matter for his censure, and scarcely a passage on which he bestows praise.
I hope Mrs. Say, your son and daughter are well. I think with pleasure of the happy day which owing to your united kindness I passed with you in Paris.—Pray make my best regards acceptable to them.
With great esteem I am My dear Sir
Yours very faithfully
David Ricardo