The public papers have ere this informed you of the result of
yesterday's ballot at the India House; Mr. Jackson's motion was lost by
a majority of twenty-one or twenty-two. Mr. Jackson, in his reply, said
everything of you that your most partial friends could wish; and indeed
the general tone of his speech, yesterday, was much more moderate than
that by which he introduced his motion. Mr. Bosanquet's[130] comments on
some passages in your pamphlet[131] lead me to think that he must have
misunderstood you, as I conceive that it was not your intention by
recommending the directors to appoint more young men than there were
vacant writerships, that the unsuccessful candidates should be finally
and irrecoverably dismissed from all chance of going out to India[132].
I imagine that it was your intention to let them be again competitors
for one of the prizes of the following year, and therefore that the
punishment of their neglect would rather be a delay in their appointment
than an absolute dismission. Mr. Bosanquet appeared to me to argue on
the latter supposition.
Mr. Elphinstone[133] spoke very kindly and very handsomely of the
professors; yet I thought that he was by far the most formidable
opponent of the College as at present constituted, and the one that I
should have been least able to answer. His speech was short, but from
the moderation of his language it produced, I think, a considerable
effect, and gave great courage to Mr. Jackson's party. I hope this
subject will not be again revived, or, rather, I hope that the
proficiency of the young men, and the absence of all turbulence, will
satisfy every one of the impolicy of interfering with the establishment.
I am sorry to be under the necessity of putting off my visit to you, but
I shall not be able to be with you on Saturday[134].... We are going ...
into Gloucestershire, so that I must defer my visit to you to some more
favourable opportunity. Perhaps you may be in London to the King of
Clubs. If so, pray come to us. I wanted to show you my observations[135]
on your pamphlets before they go to the printers. If I do not see you on
Friday, I shall send them by the coach in a few days. As they are the
last article in my very poor performance, the printer will probably not
want them till my return[136]. When you have read them, pray send them
with your observations to Brook Street by the coach....
Very truly yours,
DAVID RICARDO.