This morning I intended that my letter to you to-day should inform you
that I would have the pleasure of passing next Saturday and Sunday with
you at Haileybury; but a circumstance has taken place which will make it
necessary for me to go to Bath on Friday next, from which place I shall
again return to London early in the next week. As you say you will not
be in town till after Easter, perhaps it will be convenient to you to
see me at Haileybury on Saturday se'nnight. If so, I shall be with you
on that day, at your dinner hour; and, if I do not hear from you before,
I shall conclude that you have no engagement which will render my visit
inconvenient.
I mean this day to put the last of my papers in the printer's hands, and
hope he will be able to finish the printing before my visit to you; but
of this I have some doubt, as he does not proceed regularly at the same
even pace.
I agree with you that, after having so often heard your opinions, in
contradiction to mine, it would not be of much use just now, when my
book is actually in the press, to enter again on your reasons for
differing with me. I did not send you the manuscripts with any such
intention. I merely wished you to see that part which related to you
before I published, that I might not inadvertently misrepresent your
statement. I cannot have the least objection to insert the note you
mention[161], although I cannot but regret that we should differ so much
as to the just and fair import of the words _real price_. When you see
my book altogether, you will not perhaps differ from me so much as you
now think you do. You may, and I believe will, object to the correctness
of many of my terms, as they will appear to you fanciful and not always
properly applied; but, making allowance for such deviations, you will I
am sure agree with much of the matter. On some points, indeed, there is
no difference between us, and on others our chief disagreement would be
in the mode of representing them. I have written this letter at
intervals between other engagements, as I have been repeatedly
interrupted. I now hear the postman's bell, and must hasten to conclude.
Very truly yours,
DAVID RICARDO.