The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• 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]

394.

ricardo to mill1
[Reply to 389.—Answered by 398]

Gatcomb Park 14^th. Oct^r. 1820

My Dear Sir

I am writing to you in the evening, at that time of the day when I am generally attacked with a sleepy fit, so that if you perceive any thing more than ordinarily stupid in this letter, you will know to what cause to ascribe it. I have within these few days received two letters of application for my vote on the next vacancy for the Direction. This is as it should be, I am glad that the candidates are so early in the field, and are so active in their operations, as it will satisfy your prudence, if your judgment is not already satisfied, that it would be inexpedient for me to aspire to the honor of sitting at the Honb^le. Board, which in name, if not in reality governs so many millions of men. The more I reflect on the proposal you were induced to make, the more I am convinced that I should be wrong to be tempted by it. There is no commoner mistake for men to make than to place themselves in situations for which their habits and talents render them unfit;—this they often discover too late, when to retreat is a matter of difficulty, and they are left exposed to all the mortifications which a responsible situation under such circumstances cannot fail to bring with it. I shall act very unwisely if I deviate from the quiet sober path in which I am now moving—it is not one in which I can do much good, but still it affords me opportunities of doing all the good which I am capable of performing.

Since you left us, we have had a visit from the Smiths, the Miss Bayleys, and Mr. Warburton, and on monday next we are engaged to go to pass a few days with them at Easton Grey. Mr. Knyvett1 accepted the invitation we gave him, and Mr. Smith no further kept his engagement of meeting him, than by staying one night at Gatcomb.—I had to entertain Mr. K by myself, and as I have often before experienced, the task was not so difficult as I apprehended. He is a good natured man—has seen a good deal of the world, and is very well disposed to be agreeable and satisfied—he went away, I hope, quite contented with his visit.

The walk is finished from the house up the hill, and down it on the further extremity, till it joins the field. On monday we begin the walk in the field, where we projected the shrubbery, to hide the wall which is now so conspicuous from the house. The other walks are all in contemplation. I have disposed of the Coppice to Mr. Playne1 for £1600, and the right of throwing a net in the lake is relinquished by him. Under his superintendance, and by his advice, I am building a wall across the lake to prevent the fish from going up the Brook, where he says they are mostly destroyed. This wall will be rather ornamental, as it will give me a waterfall—and it will be useful too as forming the side of a small pond which will answer as a preserve for fish. Since selling the Coppice I have bought a field of Mr. Playne, which rather impertinently intruded itself amongst mine. So much money was asked for it, that I confess I was not disposed to purchase it, but by the advice of friends, but still more for the sake of peace and quietness, as Mr. Warburton observed, I have sacrificed my money. It appears to be doubtful whether the road from Nailsworth will be undertaken,—the projectors are disposed to be very civil to me, and to do nothing without my consent.—

I take advantage of every leisure hour to work on my reply to Malthus—I consider it as an agreeable amusement, and say every thing that offers. It will not probably be desirable to publish it—if I do send it forth it will want a great deal of lopping. I hope you are proceeding with your work.—In a letter I received from Malthus, a short time ago,2 he begs to be kindly remembered to you. In speaking of your projected work, he observes that it should not be done till the disputed points are settled. If you waited till we had his assent to these points, your work would I fear never appear.

I have done what I at present think necessary to my first chapter, and have laid it by for fresh inspection after I have forgotten it a little. I am too familiar with it at present to be able to form a tolerable judgment of the repetitions &c^a. &c^a..

I received from London, to day, M Say’s letters to Malthus, sent by himself, and a very kind letter accompanying it1 —he says “Je desire vivement que les explications que je donne ici de ma doctrine des valeurs, vous satisfasse mieux que celles qui se trouvent dans mes précédens ecrits. Cette doctrine me semble maintenant digne d’etre adoptée et etendu par vous &c^a. &c^a.”—In this I cannot agree with him—it will be necessary I think to take some notice of his late publications in the next edition of my book, for he says [“]J’attendrai avec impatience les premiers ecrits que vous publierez pour savoir ce que vous en pensez; car je crois avoir montré qu’elle n’est autre que la vôtre en d’autres termes.”

Mrs. Osman Ricardo’s father Mr. Mallory is dead—he has suffered very much for this last twelvemonths, and his best friends must rejoice that his afflictions are at an end.

Well, what do you think of the Queen’s defence? It is not exactly what I wish, but still much more satisfactory than I ventured to expect. What a storm has been raised! How glad ministers would be to go back to their position at the King’s death! What will be the end of it? Surely the House of Lords cannot now pass the bill. The Queen preaches pure radicalism. Church and state are treated by her with very little ceremony.

Mrs. Ricardo, Mary and Birtha desire to be most kindly remembered to you—they are the only parts of my family now at home. David is gone to Cambridge, and my sister Rachel who came to us a fortnight ago, to Bath—she will return in a few days.

Ever most truly Y^rs.

David Ricardo

[1 ]Addressed: ‘J. Mill Esqr. / Examiner’s Office / East India House / London’. Franked by Ricardo ‘October Fifteen’.

MS in Mill-Ricardo papers.

[1 ]A musician.

[1 ]Probably William Playne, a mill-owner at Minchinhampton and a neighbour of Ricardo. (See A. T. Playne, History of the Parishes of Minchinhampton and Avening, Gloucester, 1915, pp. 41 and 140.)

[2 ]Letter 388.

[1 ]Letter 393.