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452.: ricardo to murray1 - David Ricardo, The Works and Correspondence of David Ricardo, Vol. 9 Letters 1821-1823 [1821]

Edition used:

The Works and Correspondence of David Ricardo, ed. Piero Sraffa with the Collaboration of M.H. Dobb (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2005). Vol. 9 Letters 1821-1823.

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.


452.

ricardo to murray1

Dear Sir

Mr. Place of Charing Cross has been writing a Reply to Mr. Godwins book on Population, in which he defends Mr. Malthus’s doctrines from Mr. Godwin’s attacks. A few days ago Mr. Place wrote to me, communicating his wish to have an introduction through my means to you, that he might confer with you respecting the publication of his book:—he, at the same time sent me his MS, with a request that I would read it, and after reading it give my opinion to you of its merits. I am sorry that he selected me for this latter task—not that the reading of it was disagreeable to me, quite the contrary, but because I am sure he fixed on a judge very ill qualified to pronounce judgment on such a work. Having said thus much I must proceed to fulfil the remainder of the obligation which I have taken on myself, and give you my opinion, leaving you to estimate it at its just value.

I think then that Mr. Place’s Reply is a triumphant one; he appears to me to grapple with all Mr. Godwins strongest arguments, and completely to overturn them. Mr. Malthus’s views are shewn to be, in all essential particulars, correct, and on the whole I think Mr. Place has shewn himself to be possessed of a great deal of industry and talents.

Mr. Place may probably call on you in a few days—you will dispose of him as you think proper.2

I am Dear Sir Yours very truly

David Ricardo

[1 ]Addressed: ‘John Murray Esq/Albermale Street / London’.

MS in the possession of Sir John Murray.

[2 ]On 21 Sept. 1821 Place writes to Ricardo: ‘Mr. Murray has my M.S. to shew to some friend of his. I am to hear from him in two or three days’ (postscript to a letter relating to the accounts of the Chrestomathic School; unpublished, MS in R.P). See further, below, p. 115–16.