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283.: ricardo to murray1 - 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:

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


283.

ricardo to murray1

Dear Sir

By the Stroudwater coach, which passes through this place to-morrow, and stops at the Old White Horse Cellar Piccadilly, you will receive one of the copies of my book, which I have prepared for the press. You will observe that there are a few very trifling alterations where I thought I could make my ideas more clear. The first chapter was rather complained of, as being long, and the subject complicated. I have endeavoured to improve it, by dividing it into 4 sections.2 Perhaps others may think this no improvement at all, and therefore I should like to have the opinion of one friend only on this point. For this purpose, I will inclose in the parcel tomorrow, a letter to Mr. Mill, with a copy of the Titles of the 4 sections, and I will ask him his opinion of them. Your messenger can stop while he reads them, and he will return them to him with any alteration he may suggest, which you will instruct the printer to adopt; or he will advise their suppression altogether. I know that Mr. Mill is very busy, and therefore I cannot trouble him to correct the press; if such correction is absolutely necessary, with the insignificant alterations I have made, the sheets must be sent to me.

Perhaps you could get those few franked in which there is any deviation from the old edition, and the others might be left to the correction of the printer. I have another copy of my book here, so that the old sheets need not be sent.—

The attack upon me in Blackwood’s magazine1 is I think very paltry—it finds fault with an opinion without examining the grounds which have been given for the opinion, and is really unworthy of notice.

I have some wish to see, and I desired Mrs. Ricardo to bring me, the last number of the New Edinburgh Magazine in which some part of my doctrine is disputed by Major Torrens.2 Mrs. Ricardo sent me the wrong book, she has probably applied to you, and you have given her the right number. She will leave Brook Street for the country on wednesday morning (very early) next,3 and if you have any thing to send she will bring it.

Yrs. truly

David Ricardo

[1 ]Addressed: ‘John Murray Esqr. / Albermale Street / London’.

MS in the possession of Sir John Murray.

[2 ]In ed. 2 of the Principles, as published, the chapter is divided into five sections. Cp. below, p. 333, n. 1.

[1 ]See above, p. 316, n. 2.

[2 ]See above, p. 315.

[3 ]25 November.