A long time has elapsed since there has been any connection between us,
and I take an early opportunity after my arrival in England to address a
few lines to you principally with a view of having some account of
yourself and family, from your own pen. I have been actively employed
since we last met, for not only have I wandered about Switzerland but I
have been as far as Florence. In my way to Florence I deviated from the
direct road to see Venice, and on my return from it I did the same thing
in order to visit Genoa. Our journey has been an uncommonly prosperous
one, for we have all enjoyed perfect health and have met with few or no
difficulties. My companions as well as myself have very much enjoyed
this tour. When I was at Geneva I saw a good deal of our friend Dumont,
who accompanied us to Chamouny and returned with us to Geneva. At
Coppet[258] I met M. Sismondi. He, the Duke of Broglie, and I had a
long conversation on the points of difference between us: the Duke took
my side, but after a long battle we each of us I believe remained in the
same opinion that we commenced the discussion in. M. Sismondi has left a
pleasing impression on my mind. Madame de Broglie had a great deal of
patience and forbearance. She is, I think, a very agreeable lady. I
stayed in Paris three weeks just previous to my return to England. M. de
Broglie and the Baron de Stael arrived there after me. I had the
pleasure of seeing them two or three times. I was very much pleased with
M. Gallois[259], who made me acquainted with M. Destutt [de] Tracy[260],
a very agreeable old gentleman, whose works I had read with pleasure. I
do not entirely agree with him in his political economy; he is one of
Say's school; there are, nevertheless, some points of difference between
them. I saw Say several times, but our conversation did not turn much on
subjects connected with political economy; he never led to those
subjects, and I always fancied he did not much like to talk upon them.
His brother, Louis Say[261], has published a thick volume of remarks
upon Adam Smith's, his brother's, your, and my opinions. He is not
satisfied with any of us. His principal object is to show that wealth
consists in the abundance of enjoyable commodities; he accuses us all of
wishing to keep up what we call valuable commodities, without any regard
to quantity, about which only the political economist should be anxious.
I do not believe that any of us will plead guilty to this charge. I
feel fully assured that I do not merit it should be made against me.
M. Gamier[262] is dead; but previous to his death he had prepared an
additional volume of notes for a new edition of his translation of the
'Wealth of Nations,' and which [_sic_] has lately been published. I had
an opportunity of looking it over, and naturally turned to those places
where he criticises me. He has bestowed a good deal of space on his
remarks upon my work, but they do appear to me quite irrelevant. Neither
he nor M. Say have (_sic_) succeeded in at all understanding what my
opinions are. Your name often occurs in this last volume. I believe he
differed from you also, but I had not time to read the whole of his
book.
I hope you have been very industrious in my absence, and that we shall
soon see the new edition of your last work[263]. I am anxious to know
how you deal with the difficult question of value. I shall read you with
great interest and attention.
I am sorry to find the agricultural distress continue. I was in hopes
that it would have subsided before this time. I suppose we shall hear
much on this subject next session of Parliament, and that I shall be a
mark for all the country gentlemen. There is not an opinion I have given
on the subject which I desire to recall. I only regret that my
adversaries do not do me justice, and that they put sentiments in my
mouth which I never uttered. Dr. Copplestone in his article in the
Quarterly Review[264] charges me with maintaining the absurd doctrine
that the price of gold bullion is a sure test of the value of bullion
and currency. A Mr. Paget has addressed a (printed) letter[265] to me,
in which I am accused of holding the same opinion, and everybody knows
how pertinaciously Cobbet[t] persists in saying that I have always done
so. I must fight my cause as well as I can; I know it is an honest one
(in spite of Mr. Western's[266] insinuations), and, if it be also
founded in truth and on correct views, justice will be finally done to
me.
I arrived in London the beginning of last week; I saw Tooke for a few
minutes, and was glad to hear from him that he had been writing and was
nearly ready for the press. I have a very good opinion of his judgment
and of the soundness of his views; he will, I think, from his practical
knowledge, throw much light on the question of the influence of an
over-supply or of an increased demand, without a corresponding supply,
on price[267].
I am now on a visit to my son. On the 27th I shall go to Gatcomb for a
week. From the 3rd to the 17th January I shall be with Mrs. Austin at
Bradley, Wottonunderedge, and from the 17th to the 2nd February with
Mrs. Clutterbuck, Widcomb, Bath. Where shall you pass your holidays? Is
there any probability of my seeing you at Bath? I should be glad to meet
you there.
I read in the papers with much concern of the renewal of disturbances
amongst the young men at the college. I know how distressing to you such
insubordination is, and greatly regretted that you should have been
again exposed to it. I hope that order was quickly restored.
I saw Mr. Whishaw in London for a few minutes. I am not without hopes
of seeing him at Mrs. Smith's at Easton Grey, where I mean to pass two
nights on my way to Bradley....
Believe me,
Ever truly yours,
DAVID RICARDO.