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522.: ricardo to mill1 - 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.


522.

ricardo to mill1

My dear Mill

My poor sister2 was very anxious to have my brother to attend her in her confinement, and as she had much exceeded the time she reckoned on, he was obliged to remain much longer than he expected in London. His stay here had very much affected his health, and the unfortunate result of his attendance has nearly overpowered him. He is so very unwell that I think it right to accompany him to Brighton—we shall go there this day—I think of returning in the middle of next week.—My sister had very nearly died during her last confinement, which made her so anxious to have my brother now, who had attended her when she had her first two children, but was too ill to do the same last year. She has left 4 children the eldest of which was only 3 last January. I am sure that my brother did every thing for her that skill and affection could prompt—he is persuaded so himself, yet he feels most acutely the afflicting termination of his anxiety. I hope the quiet and good air of Brighton will speedily restore him to the state in which he was in before.—

Mrs. Osman has been agitated by the late occurrence, and does not get on as I could wish—her pulse was very high all day yesterday.

I spoke to Mr. Bankes3 concerning Mr. Peacock’s4 admission to the library of the British Museum;—his name will be entered, and he has only to shew himself at the Museum, after monday next, to be admitted.

I thank you for your article on Prison Discipline1 —I shall take it with me to Brighton.—

I rejoice at your promotion.—I hope your determination respecting John may prove to have been a good one.2

Ever Yrs

David Ricardo

I very foolishly put this letter in my pocket, and brought it here instead of sending it to you from Brook Street

[1 ]Addressed: ‘James Mill Esq /1 Queen Square / Westminster / London’. Franked by Ricardo: ‘Brighton April Thirteen 1823’.

MS in Mill-Ricardo papers.

[2 ]Esther Wilkinson, died 10 April 1823.

[3 ]Henry Bankes, M.P. for Corfe Castle, one of the trustees of the British Museum.

[4 ]Thomas Love Peacock, the novelist, was Mill’s colleague as Assistant Examiner at the East India House.

[1 ]In Supplement to the Encyclopaedia Britannica.

[2 ]Mill had been promoted First Assistant Examiner of India Correspondence. At the same time he had decided against sending John to Cambridge and had obtained for him an appointment in the Examiner’s office. (Bain, James Mill, p. 207; J. S. Mill, Autobiography, p. 81.)