I intend leaving town this evening for Ramsgate, where I think I shall
stay about a fortnight, so that I cannot accept your kind invitation for
Saturday next; but I hope it will not be long before I bend my steps
towards your hospitable roof. If on Saturday the 19th of September you
should be quite disengaged and it should be every way convenient to you
and Mrs. Malthus, I shall be glad to take tea with you on the evening of
that day. I shall be obliged to quit you on the Monday morning. I hope I
need not say that I shall be exceedingly sorry if I put you to the least
inconvenience and that it will be equally agreeable to me to visit you
on any Saturday after the 19th if I am not engaged to go to Ramsgate.
Perhaps you will be so good as to write a few lines directed to the
Stock Exchange a few days previously to the 19th as I shall certainly be
in town at that time. I am obliged to you for the interest you take in
the price of Omnium. It appears to be in a very thriving condition. Mr.
Goldsmid[50] informs me that at the period of the improvement in the
exchange about Christmas last there were no importations, as far as he
knows, of gold from France. A small quantity was imported from Lisbon. I
have consulted Wetenhall's list[51], and the following appear to be the
variations in the exchange and the price of gold about Christmas last.
+----------+----------+-------------+-------------+
| | | | |
| | Exchange | Doubloons, | Portuguese |
| | with | per oz. | gold, |
| | Hamburg. | | [per. oz.] |
| | | | |
+----------+----------+-------------+-------------+
| | | | |
| 1811. | | L _s._ _d._ | L _s._ _d._ |
| Nov. 29 | 24 | 4 15 0 | |
| Dec. 3 | 24.6 | | 4 18 6 |
| " 6 | 24.6 | 4 14 6 | 4 18 6 |
| " 13 | 25 | 4 15 6 | |
| " 20 | 25 | | 4 19 0 |
| " 31 | 27.6 | | |
| 1812. | | | |
| Jan. 3 | 27.6 | 4 14 0 | 4 18 6 |
| " 31 | 27.6 | | 4 18 6 |
| Feb. 21 | 28 | | 4 17 0 |
| Mar. 20 | 29 | | 4 15 6 |
| " 31 | 29.4 | 4 14 6 | 4 13 6 |
| April 21 | 29.4 | 4 17 6 | 4 17 6 |
| June 5 | 28.6 | | 4 18 6 |
| July 31 | 28.9 | 4 19 0 | 5 0 0 |
| Aug. 28 | 28.9 | 5 0 0 | |
| | | | |
+----------+----------+-------------+-------------+
The price of dollars yesterday was 6/31/2 per oz., higher by one penny
than any price ever yet quoted. I should think that a very trifling rise
more will send the tokens out of circulation. We will speak on our old
subject when we meet. I am now in great haste and must therefore
conclude. Pray make my kind compliments to Mrs. Malthus,
And believe me, my dear Sir,
Yours very truly,
DAVID RICARDO.
[At the end is written in pencil in Malthus's handwriting, 'Was any
bullion imported from Hamburg in March?']