Two unpublished letters of David Ricardo to Thomas Smith of Easton Grey

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis paper introduces and transcripts two hitherto unpublished letters by the political economist David Ricardo to his neighbour and intimate friend Thomas Smith of Easton Grey. In these letters dated 11 December 1819 and 12 February 1821, Ricardo mentioned the third edition of his Principles of Political Economy and Taxation, as well as his notes on the first edition of Malthus’s Principles of Political Economy Considered with a View to their Applications. Ricardo referred also to several contemporary debates in the House of Commons where he seated for the borough of Minchinhampton since the early part of the year 1819. Amongst these debates are the ‘Seditious Meetings Prevention Bill’; the affair of a pamphlet anonymously published in late 1819 and entitled A Trifling Mistake; the issue of parliamentary reform; and Ricardo’s opposition to Alexander Baring on the origin of the contemporary distress as well as on his project of a return to bimetallism as a measure of relief.