THE PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICAL PHILOSOPHY. BY HENRY DUNNING MACLEOD, M.A. OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, AND THE INNER TEMPLE, BARRISTER-AT-LAW; SELECTED BY THE ROYAL COMMISSIONERS FOR THE DIGEST OF THE LAW TO PREPARE LECTURER ON POLITICAL ECONOMY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE Ne nous imaginons pas que le vrai soit victorieux dès qu'il se montre; ΤΟ MICHEL CHEVALIER, MEMBER OF THE INSTITUTE OF FRANCE, PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL ECONOMY IN THE COLLEGE DE FRANCE. MY DEAR CHEVALIER, It is with the most heartfelt pleasure that I inscribe this work with your name. I shall never forget the generous warmth with which you expressed your approval of its principles, when years ago, I, a perfect stranger, submitted it to you, as one of the greatest living masters of the Science. I shall ever feel honored by the constant public support you have given me, and especially by your Report on my Works to the Institute of France. There is another reason why I love to link your name with this book.. In one of his last letters, your illustrious friend, FREDERIC BASTIAT,—the brightest genius who ever adorned our Science—says that he only longed to be assured, before he died, that his book should call forth another. My work was written before I had even heard of his name; but when I read his works for the first time, to give an account of them in my Dictionary, I was surprised and delighted to find that he had anticipated me on almost every point; and that I was unconsciously re-constructing the Science on his principles. No one can feel more sensibly than I do how inferior I am to your lamented friend in literary skill: but our IDEAS are the same; and I venture to say, with confidence, that had he been living now, there would have been no material difference between us on any point. No words of mine can add to your well-earned fame. But History will record your unceasing efforts to promote the knowledge of true Economic Science -the surest basis of the prosperity of nations-in your country, and the part you played in negotiating the Commercial Treaty of 1860. History will record the noble stand which you, alone in the Senate of the falling Empire, made against that fatal policy which has brought such unheard of calamities on the pleasant land of France. Would that she had listened then to the wisdom of your counsels! Would that she would listen to you now! For her best hope of recovery lies in her learning and adopting those principles of Economics which you have so eloquently defended. LONDON, December 1st, 1872. Believe me to be, Ever affectionately yours, HENRY DUNNING MACLEOD. |