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Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow 377.: mcculloch to ricardo1[Reply to 375.—Answered by 381] - The Works and Correspondence of David Ricardo, Vol. 8 Letters 1819-June 1821

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377.: mcculloch to ricardo1[Reply to 375.—Answered by 381] - 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.


377.

mcculloch to ricardo1
[Reply to 375.—Answered by 381]

My Dear Sir

I return you my best thanks for your excellent letter of the 2nd inst—The different communications with which you have favoured me relative to Mr. Malthus late work are not only extremely valuable as criticisms on that publication, but as developing principles and opening up views of the greatest importance—They will be of very great use to me in my future inquiries—

I send you herewith the sheets of my article on Tithes2 —You will I hope excuse me for having done so—I know it contains nothing of which you were not previously aware; but I am anxious that you should see all my labours, however unimportant, and I thought you would not be displeased to see a farther practical application of those principles which you have so successfully and admirably developed—In treating this subject I was a good deal fettered—I should like to have handled the clergy a little more roughly; but the circulation of the Review in England and their very great influence rendered a considerable degree of menagement quite indispensable—However if the public attention could be excited to a proper consideration of the subject of Tithes, a great deal of good would be effected; and an improvement in one branch of the Church establishment might pave the way for it in another—

I have some intention of preparing an article either for the Supplement to the E.B. or the Review on the National Debt1 —In this article I should endeavour to give an outline and a criticism of the different plans which have been proposed for ridding the country of this enormous load. Of course I would have to review that which you have patronised—I think I am pretty well acquainted with the advantages which might be expected to result from its adoption, and also with the difficulties which would undoubtedly attend any attempt to carry it into effect—However if you could command as much leisure, I should be much gratified by your favouring me with your remarks on some of the most popular and strongest objections which have been made to it—

I hope you receive the Scotsman regularly at Minchinhampton—I shall order receipts for your subscription and that of Mr. Ralph, to be sent to you when you return to London—I have not heard from Mr. Ralph for a very long time—I hope he has not forgot me altogether, and I shall feel much obliged if you will present him with my compts, and assure him that I shall not be long in replying to his next letter to me—

The public here are very much interested in the case of the Queen—It is a revolting and a disgusting business; whether she be innocent or guilty is a matter of very inferior consideration—The evil consists in the abominable and infamous nature of the inquiry—

I shall expect to hear from you at your convenience and with every sentiment of esteem and regard I remain

My Dear Sir Yours most faithfully

J. R. McCulloch

[1 ]MS in R.P.

[2 ]Edinburgh Review, Aug. 1820, Art. III.

[1 ]The article did not appear in the Supplement to the Encyclopaedia Britannica; see Edinburgh Review, Oct. 1823, Art. I, ‘Funding System—British Finances’ and cp. below, p. 238, n. 1.