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Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow 389.: mill to ricardo1[Reply to 386.—Answered by 394] - The Works and Correspondence of David Ricardo, Vol. 8 Letters 1819-June 1821

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389.: mill to ricardo1[Reply to 386.—Answered by 394] - 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.


389.

mill to ricardo1
[Reply to 386.—Answered by 394]

My Dear Sir

I do not mean to pester you on this subject—because I think it as well, in the present state of things, that the deliberation should stand over till you come to town. But I think it necessary to tell you without loss of time that your reasons are by no means satisfactory. I however anticipated them all, and told Mc.Culloch2 what sort of an answer we should receive. In truth there is not one of the inconveniences you alledge which is not either unreal, or much less than you conceive—except that alone of your not being able to live six months in the year at so great a distance from London. That, however, I think there is more than enough to compensate. You would be needed at the India House seldom more than once a week.

But I shall say no more at present. I hope you all remain well. Mr. Osman has now got his rain. I send my regards to my faithful servant, my Attorney General, whose talents and exertions in my service are no doubt improving. She will in time be entitled to the highest rewards.1

Truly yours

J. Mill

The above was written and intended to be sent yesterday. But Ravenshaw the Director2 came into my room, and staying till after four oclock I forgot to send it to the post office. Mc.Culloch was with me at the same time, and Ravenshaw lamenting the prospect of supply for the Court of Directors, Mc.Culloch said to him, I want, Ravenshaw, to ask you a question point blank and without preparation. Do you think that the Directors, that is, a decided majority of the Directors, would support Ricardo, if he was to offer for the Direction. Ravenshaw replied instantly, There is not a doubt about it. If he were to call this hour upon the Chairman and state any such intention, the Chairman would hail it as a God-send; and so, he added, would all of us, who have the respectability of the Direction in the smallest degree at heart. We then stated to him a little of what had previously passed between Mc.Culloch and myself, and I mentioned some of your objections—and we had a good deal of talk. You must therefore by no means look upon the chance of success, if you can be, as you ought to be, prevailed upon, as in any degree doubtful.

[1 ]MS in R.P.—Cp. below, p. 293, n. 2.

[2 ]William McCulloch.

[1 ]Mrs. Osman Ricardo.

[2 ]J. G. Ravenshaw, Director of the East India Company from 1819, Chairman in 1832.