I have before me a bulky volume, apparently unpublished, treating of
currency and of many other politico-economical affairs; the authorship of
which I am desirous of tracing. If any reader of "N. & Q." can assist my
search I shall feel greatly obliged to him.
This volume extends to 936 closely printed pages, and is altogether without
divisions either of book, chapter, or section. It has neither title-page,
conclusion, imprint, or date; and my copy seems to consist of revises or
"clean sheets" as they came from the press. The main gist of the work is
thus described, apparently by the author himself, in a MS. note which
occupies the place of the title-page:
"It is here meant to show that in civilised nations money is an
emanating circulable wealth and power, {492} without which individuals
cannot go on in improvement on independent principles. It resolves
wealth into the forms most conducive to this object, and prepares for
the highest services both individuals and communities."
The book, however, is extremely discursive, and no small portion of it is
devoted to foreign politics. Thus, of the "Eastern Question," the author
disposes in this fashion:
"Austria, to answer its destination, ought to comprise Wallachia,
Bessarabia, Moldavia, and, following the line of demarcation drawn by
the Danube, the whole territory at its debouchment.... Turkey cannot
regard the sacrifices proposed as of much importance, when such
security as that now in contemplation could be obtained. The whole
strength of her immense empire is at present drained to support her
contest on this very barrier with Russia. But that barrier, it is
evident, would this way be effectually secured: for Austria has too
many points of importance to protect, to dream of creating new ones on
this feeble yet extended confine of her domains."--Pp. 835, 836.
From internal evidence, the book appears to have been written between 1812
and 1815. It is printed in half-sheets, from sig. A to sig. 6 B, and three
half-sheets are wanting, viz. E, 5 Q, and 5 R. In place of the last two,
the following MS. note is inserted:
"The speculations in the two following sheets included views that
related to the disorganised state of Turkey, and the unhappy dependence
of the Bourbon family; which are now, from the changes which have taken
place, altogether unfit for publication."
The sole indication of the authorship which I have observed throughout the
volume lies in the following foot-note, at p. 893.:
"This is all that seems to be necessary to say on the subject of
education. In a treatise published by me a few years ago, entitled
_Improvements in Glasgow_, I think I have exhausted," &c.[6]
The only treatise with such a title which I find in Watt's _Bibliotheca
Britannica_ is thus entered:
"LAURIE, David. Proposed improvements in Glasgow. Glasg., 1810,
8vo.--Hints regarding the East India Monopoly, 1813. 2s."
My _Queries_ then are these:
1. Is anything known of such a treatise on "circulable wealth," &c., as
that which I have named?
2. Is any biographical notice extant of the "David Laurie" mentioned by
Watt?
I may add that the volume in question was recently purchased along with
about 1000 other pamphlets and books, chiefly on political economy: all of
which appear to have formerly belonged to the late Lord Bexley, and to have
been for the most part collected by him when Chancellor of the Exchequer.