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111 - Jean-Baptiste SAY (1767–1832). 8 letters from the author, an…
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Jean-Baptiste SAY (1767–1832). 8 letters from the author, and a signed autograph manuscript, 1821–1828 and undated, to Marc-Antoine and Auguste Jullien, editors of the *Revue encyclopédique*; 17 pages in-8 and in-4, with addresses. An interesting correspondence concerning articles and reviews on political economy in the *Revue encyclopédique*. 25 December 1821. Say returns to Jullien in Paris the ‘North-American Review and the Antologia of Florence, in which my works are mentioned with praise that makes me blush’; he is to send the Revue to Jeremy Bentham in England. – 16 September. Say is awaiting proofs for his articles ‘on the Colonisations of Africa’ and on Blanqui’s Voyage to England; the Baron de Fahnenberg ‘has translated my Catechism of Political Economy into German’. – 12 March. He expresses his gratitude for the copies of English journals: ‘The Westminster Review […] addresses all the major issues; the common good, not only of England but of humanity, seems to inspire it’; he also draws attention to the critique of ‘an article in the Edinburgh Review, which defends the right of primogeniture and the concentration of property (I know that this latter article is by Sir James Macintosch)’, as well as the exaggerated praise for Stuart Mill’s work “or the no less exaggerated praise for David Ricardo, whom British pride places above all other economic writers”. – 30 September 1824. He hopes to meet James Macintosch, who is passing through Paris; ‘Since censorship has been abolished, I flatter myself that you will be able to publish your issue with the articles unabridged’; he is ready to proofread a new set of proofs, and above all objects to the truncated publication of his articles. – 6 June 1826. He is asked for a ‘reasoned article on the proceedings of the English Parliament over the past year. It is not an article that is needed on this subject, but a volume. I could scarcely deal in a single article with more than one subject, such as the report on the workers’ uprisings, or on the export of gold, or etc. etc. and I do not have the time for it’; he sends back some Italian newspapers, in which ‘there is nothing new, nothing of substance’; he does not wish to deal with the proofs from Moreau de Jonnes: ‘He is nothing but a charlatan who deceives with figures just as others do with verbiage; but one knows neither where he gets his figures from nor what they prove’… – 16 October 1826. He is awaiting the proof of his article in response to Sismondi, and would gladly write one on the work translated from the German [Political Economy] by Theodor Schmalz… – 12 July [1827]. The books on political economy sent to him by Jullien do not merit an article, as they merely reel off platitudes; political economy “is precisely the opposite of metaphysics. It is social physiology. Political Economy describes the functions of each part of the social body just as physiology describes the functions of each part of the human body. Any work that does not proceed in this way is not worth a penny’… – 15 May 1827. Manuscript of a complaint by Say following an article by Charles Dunoyer on the 5th edition of his Treatise on Economics; he highlights two points of disagreement concerning cultivated land ‘which contributes to the production of our wealth’. Such a truth deserved to be challenged on sound grounds. Ricardo, who challenges it, gives his reasons; I have refuted them in this 5th edition. Mr Dunoyer merely denies the principle: does he believe it to have been refuted? Or has he read neither Ricardo nor my fifth edition?’ He fears he may have explained ‘the doctrine of intangible products’ poorly, as it is not understood by Dunoyer, ‘author of the excellent work on industry considered in relation to liberty’. It is simply unfortunate that he attacks it at a time when English authors are beginning to adopt it, they of whom we know have strong prejudices against writers who are not from their own country”… – 21 August 1828. He proposes an article on the University of London, which has just been established: ‘it would be quite pleasing to the Review if it were the first to bring to Europe’s attention an event that will mark a milestone in the progress of the human mind’; but he fears that the printing of the August issue is too far advanced to include this article. Charles Comte [Say’s son-in-law] will take charge of an article on the Political Economy of the Athenians, and Say asks Jullien to ‘publicise the Monthion Prize which the Academy has awarded to one of your contributors, the author of the Treatise on Legislation ’ [by Charles Comte].
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About the sale Letters and Autograph Manuscripts – Part I
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Auction time 10/13/2026 at 2:00 PM
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