A long time has elapsed since I had the pleasure of seeing you, during
which time I have often intended writing, as I did not hear from you;
but my natural indolence prevailed, and I have procrastinated it till
now. I had some faint hopes that you might be in the neighbouring county
this vacation, in which case I should have hoped to prevail on you to
pass a short time here; but I learnt from Mr. Binda, who is on a visit
to Mr. Smith, that he had met with you at Holland House, and that it was
not probable you would go far from home. I had previously enquired about
you of our young neighbour George Clerk; he, however, could only tell me
you were well; he knew nothing about your intended movements.
By an advertisement in the public papers I perceive that you have been
occupied in writing about your College[141], which I regret, as I
believe the task was not very agreeable to you, and as it may have
prevented you from proceeding with other works in which I imagine you
are more interested. I should be glad to hear that everything you think
defective in the College was remedied, and that it was placed on such a
footing as to require only the ordinary routine of your attention.
I have been occasionally employed, since we met, in putting my thoughts
on paper, on the subjects which have often passed under our discussion.
I have encountered the usual obstacles from difficulties of composition;
but I have resolutely persevered till I have committed everything to
paper that was floating in my mind. There are a few points on which
there is a shadow of difference between my present and my past opinions;
but they are not those on which we could not agree. I hope I shall
succeed in putting my MS. in some tolerable order, as on that will
depend whether I shall again appear before the public. What I have
hitherto done is rather a statement of my own opinions than an attempt
at the refutation of the opinions of others. Lately, however, I have
been looking over Adam Smith, Say, and Buchanan, and where I have seen
passages in their works contrary to the principles I hold to be correct
I have noticed them, and shall perhaps make them the subject of some
comment.
I fear I shall not have the satisfaction of receiving your acquiescence
to my doctrines, particularly as I have reverted to my former views
respecting taxes on raw produce. Whatever may be correct on that
subject, surely Adam Smith is wrong, as there are various passages in
his book inconsistent with each other.
We shall, I hope, soon meet and renew our discussions on some of these
difficult matters. I shall be in London on Friday next, and hope to see
you in Brook Street as our inmate, as soon after that day as business or
inclination may draw you to London.
I want to hear your opinion of the measures lately adopted for the
relief of the poor[142]. I am not one of those who think that the
raising of funds for the purpose of employing the poor is a very
efficacious mode of relief, as it diverts those funds from other
employments which would be equally if not more productive to the
community. That part of the capital which employs the poor on the roads,
for example, cannot fail to employ men somewhere, and I believe every
interference is prejudicial....
Believe me,
Ever yours,
DAVID RICARDO.