It is not too soon to remind you that Mrs. Ricardo and I expect to have
the pleasure of Mrs. Malthus' and your company at our house on your
visit to London in the next week. I hope it will be early in the week,
and that you will not be in so great a hurry to get home as you usually
are. On the Monday, after your club meeting, I shall ask a few of your
and my friends to meet you at dinner, and on Sunday or any other day
perhaps Warburton and Mill will take a family meal with us. I have just
received an invitation from Mr. Blake to dine with him on Friday the 3rd
May, and I have taken upon myself to let you know from him that he hopes
you will favour him with your company on that day. You will I trust be
also agreeable to this arrangement.
I hope you have made better use of your time than I have done of mine,
and that you are making rapid advances with the different works which
you have in hand. I have done nothing since I saw you as I have been
obliged to go very often into the city, and after leaving off for a day
or two I have the greatest disinclination to commence work again. I may
continue to amuse myself with my speculations, but I do not think I
shall ever proceed further. Obstacles almost invincible oppose
themselves to my progress, and I find the greatest difficulty to avoid
confusion in the most simple of my statements.
Have you seen Torrens' letters to the Earl of Lauderdale in the 'Sun?'
I think he has published five. They are chiefly on the subject of
currency, and are ingenious, though I think they support some very
incorrect doctrines. They are signed with his name.
Horner, I understand, will oppose the continuance of the restriction
bill; he does not deny now the fall in the value of gold and silver
since the termination of the war. There cannot be a better opportunity
than the present for the Bank to recommence payments in specie. Silver
is actually under the mint price. The change is surprising [and has
been] brought about in a very unexpected [manner]....
Very truly yours,
DAVID RICARDO.