The Online Library of Liberty

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• Abbreviations
• 300.: Ricardo to Mcculloch1[reply to 290 & 299]
• 301.: Ricardo to Murray1
• 302.: Ricardo to Mill1[answered By 303]
• 303.: Mill to Ricardo2[reply to 298 & 302]
• 304.: Trower to Ricardo1[reply to 295.—ANSWERED By 307]
• 305.: Ricardo to Place2
• 306.: Sharp to Ricardo2
• 307.: Ricardo to Trower2[reply to 304]
• 308.: Ricardo to Mcculloch1[answered By 309]
• 309.: Mcculloch to Ricardo1[reply to 308.—ANSWERED By 310]
• 310.: Ricardo to Mcculloch1[reply to 309.—ANSWERED By 314]
• 311.: Trower to Ricardo1[answered By 312]
• 312.: Ricardo to Trower1[reply to 311]
• 313.: Ricardo to Trower2
• 314.: Mcculloch to Ricardo4[reply to 310.—ANSWERED By 315]
• 315.: Ricardo to Mcculloch3[reply to 314]
• 316.: Trower to Ricardo1[answered By 317]
• 317.: Ricardo to Trower1[reply to 316]
• 318.: Ricardo to Mill2[answered By 319]
• 319.: Mill to Ricardo1[reply to 318]
• 320.: Mill to Ricardo1
• 321.: Ricardo to Mill4[answered By 322]
• 322.: Mill to Ricardo3[reply to 321.—ANSWERED By 323]
• 323.: Ricardo to Mill1[reply to 322.—ANSWERED By 325]
• 324.: Malthus to Ricardo2[answered By 328]
• 325.: Mill to Ricardo4[reply to 323.—ANSWERED By 329]
• 326.: Ricardo to Place1
• 327.: Trower to Ricardo3[answered By 330]
• 328.: Ricardo to Malthus1[reply to 324.—ANSWERED By 338]
• 329.: Ricardo to Mill2[reply to 325.—ANSWERED By 332 & 337]
• 330.: Ricardo to Trower1[reply to 327.—ANSWERED By 339]
• 331.: Mcculloch to Ricardo1[answered By 333]
• 332.: Mill to Ricardo2[reply to 329]
• 333.: Ricardo to Mcculloch1[reply to 331.—ANSWERED By 344]
• 334.: Brown to Ricardo1[answered By 336]
• 335.: Brown to Ricardo1[answered By 336]
• 336.: Ricardo to Brown1[reply to 334 & 335]
• 337.: Mill to Ricardo1[reply to 329]
• 338.: Malthus to Ricardo1[reply to 328.—ANSWERED By 345]
• 339.: Trower to Ricardo3[reply to 330.—ANSWERED By 346]
• 340.: Bentham to Ricardo1
• 341.: Ricardo to Place2
• 342.: Place to Ricardo1[answered By 343]
• 343.: Ricardo to Place1[reply to 342]
• 344.: Mcculloch to Ricardo2[reply to 333.—ANSWERED By 349]
• 345.: Ricardo to Malthus2[reply to 338]
• 346.: Ricardo to Trower2[reply to 339]
• 347.: Say to Ricardo1[answered By 352]
• 348.: Mcculloch to Ricardo1[answered By 349]
• 349.: Ricardo to Mcculloch1[reply to 344 & 348]
• 350.: Ricardo to Heathfield1
• 351.: Ricardo to Trower1
• 352.: Ricardo to Say1[reply to 347.—ANSWERED By 356]
• 353.: Lord Grenville to Ricardo2
• 354.: Ricardo to Trower1
• 355.: Ricardo to Mcculloch1[answered By 358]
• 356.: Say to Ricardo1[reply to 352]
• 357.: Ricardo to Trower1
• 358.: Mcculloch to Ricardo1[reply to 355.—ANSWERED By 359]
• 359.: Ricardo to Mcculloch1[reply to 358.—ANSWERED By 360]
• 360.: Mcculloch to Ricardo1[reply to 359.—ANSWERED By 361]
• 361.: Ricardo to Mcculloch1[reply to 360—answered By 366]
• 362.: Ricardo to Mcculloch2[answered By 366]
• 363.: Ricardo to Malthus2
• 364.: Ricardo to Sinclair1
• 365.: Ricardo to Napier1
• 366.: Mcculloch to Ricardo3[reply to 361 & 362.—ANSWERED By 368]
• 367.: Ricardo to Bentham2
• 368.: Ricardo to Mcculloch3[reply to 366.—ANSWERED By 372]
• 369.: Bentham to Ricardo5
• 370.: Ricardo to Mill3
• 371.: Trower to Ricardo3[answered By 373]
• 372.: Mcculloch to Ricardo1[reply to 368.—ANSWERED By 375]
• 373.: Ricardo to Trower1[reply to 371.—ANSWERED By 376]
• 374.: Ricardo to Mill2
• 375.: Ricardo to Mcculloch2[reply to 372.—ANSWERED By 377]
• 376.: Trower to Ricardo1[reply to 373—answered By 380]
• 377.: Mcculloch to Ricardo1[reply to 375.—ANSWERED By 381]
• 378.: Malthus to Ricardo1[answered By 379]
• 379.: Ricardo to Malthus2[reply to 378.—ANSWERED By 388]
• 380.: Ricardo to Trower2[reply to 376.—ANSWERED By 384]
• 381.: Ricardo to Mcculloch1[reply to 377]
• 382.: Mill to Ricardo1[answered By 383]
• 383.: Ricardo to Mill1[reply to 382]
• 384.: Trower to Ricardo1[reply to 380.—ANSWERED By 387]
• 385.: Mill to Ricardo2[answered By 386]
• 386.: Ricardo to Mill1[reply to 385.—ANSWERED By 389]
• 387.: Ricardo to Trower1[reply to 384.—ANSWERED By 390]
• 388.: Malthus to Ricardo1[reply to 379.—ANSWERED By 392]
• 389.: Mill to Ricardo1[reply to 386.—ANSWERED By 394]
• 390.: Trower to Ricardo1[reply to 387.—ANSWERED By 391]
• 391.: Ricardo to Trower1[reply to 390.—ANSWERED By 397]
• 392.: Ricardo to Malthus1[reply to 388.—ANSWERED By 395]
• 393.: Say to Ricardo1[answered By 430]
• 394.: Ricardo to Mill1[reply to 389.—ANSWERED By 398]
• 395.: Malthus to Ricardo1[reply to 392.—ANSWERED By 402]
• 396.: Grenfell to Ricardo1
• 397.: Trower to Ricardo4[reply to 391.—ANSWERED By 403]
• 398.: Mill to Ricardo2[reply to 394.—ANSWERED By 400]
• 399.: Mill to Ricardo2[answered By 400]
• 400.: Ricardo to Mill3[reply to 398 & 399]
• 401.: Ricardo to Mccullochcculloch3[answered By 406]
• 402.: Ricardo to Malthus1[reply to 395.—ANSWERED By 404]
• 403.: Ricardo to Trower1[reply to 397.—ANSWERED By 410]
• 404.: Malthus to Ricardo1[reply to 402.—ANSWERED By 405]
• 405.: Ricardo to Malthus1[reply to 404.—ANSWERED By 408]
• 406.: Mcculloch to Ricardo1[reply to 401.—ANSWERED By 407]
• 407.: Ricardo to Mccullochcculloch1[reply to 406.—ANSWERED By 412]
• 408.: Malthus to Ricardo1[reply to 405]
• 409.: Ricardo to Mcculloch3[answered By 412]
• 410.: Trower to Ricardo2[reply to 403.—ANSWERED By 415]
• 411.: Malthus to Ricardo2
• 412.: Mcculloch to Ricardo1[reply to 407 & 409.—ANSWERED By 416]
• 413.: Mill to Ricardo3[answered By 414]
• 414.: Ricardo to Mill2[reply to 413]
• 415.: Ricardo to Trower1[reply to 410.—ANSWERED By 419]
• 416.: Ricardo to Mcculloch2[reply to 412.—ANSWERED By 417]
• 417.: Mcculloch to Ricardo2[reply to 416.—ANSWERED By 418]
• 418.: Ricardo to Mcculloch1[reply to 417.—ANSWERED By 421]
• 419.: Trower to Ricardo1[reply to 415.—ANSWERED By 420]
• 420.: Ricardo to Trower1[reply to 419]
• 421.: Mcculloch to Ricardo1[reply to 418.—ANSWERED By 422]
• 422.: Ricardo to Mcculloch1[reply to 421.—ANSWERED By 424]
• 423.: Trower to Ricardo3[answered By 426]
• 424.: Mcculloch to Ricardo1[reply to 422.—ANSWERED By 428]
• 425.: Tooke to Ricardo3
• 426.: Ricardo to Trower1[reply to 423]
• 427.: Tooke to Ricardo2
• 428.: Ricardo to Mcculloch1[reply to 424.—ANSWERED By 431]
• Malthus to Sismondi1
• 429.: Mcculloch to Ricardo1
• 430.: Ricardo to Say2[reply to 393.—ANSWERED By 446]
• 431.: Mcculloch to Ricardo2[reply to 428.—ANSWERED By 433]
• 432.: Ricardo to Sinclair1
• 433.: Ricardo to Mcculloch2[reply to 431.—ANSWERED By 434]
• 434.: Mcculloch to Ricardo1[reply to 433.—ANSWERED By 436]
• 435.: Trower to Ricardo1[answered By 437]
• 436.: Ricardo to Mcculloch1[reply to 434.—ANSWERED By 474]

321.

ricardo to mill4
[Answered by 322]

Easton Grey 6 Sept^r. 1819

My dear Sir

I received your note,5 with Mr. Napier’s letter to you, only yesterday, and as he must be desirous of having my answer as soon as possible to the proposal which he has very much flattered me by making, of contributing the article on the Sinking Fund to his valuable publication, I lose not a moment in furnishing you with the means of giving him one. If I thought I should succeed in such an undertaking I would most willingly attempt it, but I know myself better than you, or any other of my friends know me. I know the difficulty which I at all times have in stringing a few sentences together, and this difficulty would be incalculably increased if I felt that I was under an obligation to complete a task in a given time. When I write I must be free as air; I must have the privelege of relinquishing my work if I please, of postponing it if I should think it expedient, and of committing to the flames whatever may appear to me to deserve that fate: I am quite sure that I could do nothing, even if I were placed in the most favourable circumstances, were I bound by an engagement to accomplish my work in a definite portion of time. But I am now not placed in the most favourable circumstances for such an undertaking. In the first place I very much doubt whether my books at Gatcomb will furnish me with the facts concerning the establishment and progress of the sinking fund, and it is peculiarly important that in an Essay on that subject all the facts should be minutely and correctly stated. In the second place I am under a load of engagements, expecting to have visitors of one description or another in the house with me for several weeks to come, and although I might if I pleased entirely withdraw myself from their society of a morning, and plead my engagement for so doing, yet I know by experience how difficult this is, and how apt I am to be drawn away from my work by taking rides and walks about the country. My best reason however is my inadequacy to the performance of the work in question, and though I know that I might rely for great assistance, in the way of correction, from your friendship, yet I also know I should not get that which alone could induce me to encounter these and many more obstacles, I mean literary fame. I am sure that with my best efforts it would not be deserving of a place in the company by which it would be surrounded.

Since I last wrote to you I have been at Bath to stay a few days with Mr. and Mrs. Clutterbuck. From Bath I went to Gloster for the Assizes, and served for a few days on the Grand Jury. On leaving Gloucester Mr. Shepherd accompanied me or rather preceded me to Gatcomb where we found Lady Mary and you know that in her company there can be no time for work of any description.1 While she was with us the Smiths passed two or 3 days at Gatcomb and we are now returning their visit. Since thursday we have been here, and shall probably go back to Gatcomb tomorrow.

I found Mr. Belsham at Easton Grey, he had arrived just before me from the neighbourhood of Manchester. He is not much of a reformer, but he speaks with great indignation, (and says that the same feeling is general in every place in which he has been staying,) against the conduct of the Manchester Magistrates. Both here and at Gatcomb we have had many political discussions, without the least loss of friendship.—Shepherd, you know, is a tory, and is by inclination and interest devoted to Ministers. Smith is a determined Whig, and my sentiments are well known to you. When the expediency of a Reform in Parliament was the subject, the whig and tory joined against me, but I found myself occasionally powerfully supported by Miss Hobhouse, who is on a visit to Mrs. Smith, and consequently was of the party at Gatcomb as well as here. She is very warmly attached to her brother,2 and defends the cause of reform with all the energy of a good citizen.—Our party was yesterday increased by the accession of Mr. Whishaw, who arrived here at dinner time, accompanied by a young friend of his Mr. Mac Donnel.1 We had very little politics yesterday. The Manchester and Westminster meetings were of course the subject of discussion but on that subject there does not appear to be much difference of opinion. Sometimes indeed they speak with so much alarm of the numerous and frequent meetings of the people as to impress me strongly with the opinion that they would be willing to forbid them by law altogether.—

Remember that I wish much to see you at Gatcomb, and depend on your availing yourself of any favourable opportunity which may offer to withdraw yourself for a time from your laborious duties.—When you see Mr. Bentham tell him I have him frequently in my remembrance.

Ever truly Y^rs.

David Ricardo

I have been reading Sismondi’s work2 —it is I think a very poor performance. In his attacks upon me he is not candid but misrepresents me in several instances.—He as well as Say attempts to refute the doctrine of rent, because there is no land they say which does not pay rent.

[4 ]Addressed: ‘James Mill Esqr. / East India House / London’.

MS in Mill-Ricardo papers.

[5 ]Mill’s letter is wanting.

[1 ]Henry John Shepherd, M.P., a barrister, and his wife, Lady Mary, daughter of the Earl of Rosebery. She was the author of several philosophical treatises. ‘It has now become high fashion with blue ladies to talk political economy. There is a certain Lady Mary Shepherd who makes a great jabbering on the subject, while others who have more sense, like Mrs. Marcet, hold their tongues and listen.’ (Maria Edgeworth to Mrs Ruxton, from London, 9 March 1822. This passage, which is incomplete in Memoir of Maria Edgeworth, 1867, has been kindly supplied from the MS by Professor H. E. Butler.)

[2 ]J. C. Hobhouse.

[1 ]Alexander McDonnell (1794–1875), Student of Christ Church, Oxford, later Commissioner of National Education in Ireland.

[2 ]Nouveaux principes d’économie politique, Paris, 1819.