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Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow 302.: ricardo to mill1[Answered by 303] - The Works and Correspondence of David Ricardo, Vol. 8 Letters 1819-June 1821

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302.: ricardo to mill1[Answered by 303] - David Ricardo, The Works and Correspondence of David Ricardo, Vol. 8 Letters 1819-June 1821 [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. 8 Letters 1819-1821.

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.


302.

ricardo to mill1
[Answered by 303]

My dear Sir

I send you herewith a few reflections on Lord Grey’s speech at Newcastle.2 The Courier, or the Times, I forget which, appears to think that it is a declaration of the sentiments of the whig party;—if so, I do not think that it will increase their weight and influence in the country, for to me it appears hollow, weak, and insincere; and holds out no hope that the party will join heartily in recommending a reasonable reform, which from some observations in the papers I was in hopes they would.

What a poor figure Cobbett makes in his correspondence with Sir F. Burdett. The letter of Sir Francis to him pleased me very much.3

Mr. MCulloch has sent me the printed copy of an article, which will appear in the next Edinbgh. Review, on my proposals for an economical currency. He speaks of me with his usual kindness, and has written a very able essay on the whole subject of currency, strongly recommending my proposals. He dwells with due force on the quantity of currency regulating its value, and vice versa; and there are not above one or two propositions, incidentally introduced, against which the slightest objection can be made. On this subject nothing very new can be said but to arrange it skilfully is a work of merit.—

I hope that you are quite reinstated in the possession of health, and that I shall find you able and willing to resume your walks with me the week after next, when I expect to have the pleasure of seeing you in London.

In correcting the sheets which Murray sends to me, I was struck with a passage which I have quoted from Say, Page 352 of the first edition,1 pray look at it—I think you will agree with me that it is very much at variance with the spirit of some of his notes to the French translation.—

I have been reading pretty steadily since I last wrote to you, but I fear with little more profit than usual. I can find no remedy for the worst of memories. Writing is as distasteful as ever, I go to it reluctantly, and all my ideas appear to vanish the moment that I place the paper before me. As for speaking that I shall never do.

The time is now fast approaching when I shall know whether I am to be in the House, or not. If I am not, the party with whom I have agreed will have broken their engagement, a circumstance I suppose not very rare. I have been educated in a religious respect for engagements, and therefore it will not be my fault if the one in question is not fulfilled.

Truly Yrs.

David Ricardo

[1 ]Addressed: ‘James Mill Esqr /1 Queen Square / Westminster’.

MS in Mill-Ricardo papers.

[2 ]A speech at the Fox dinner at Newcastle, denouncing the radical reformers; reported in The Times, 7 Jan. 1819. Ricardo’s paper has not been found.

[3 ]The correspondence, which concerned Cobbett’s unpaid debts, was published in The Times, 4 Jan. 1819.

[1 ]Above, I, 256.