date

24 Aug 1801 A I Polit. Economy
24 Aug 1801

A I

Polit. Economy

1

Method and Leading features for an Institute of Political Economy considered as

an Art.(a)

Objects or Ends in view - 1 Maximum of wealth 2 maximum of population.

I. Sponte Acta Cases in which and measures or operations by which the end is

promoted by individuals, acting of themselves, and without any special

interference {in this view (i:e in the view of the promotion of that end) on the

part of government}(b)

II. Agenda - Cases in which, and measures by which, that end may be promoted by

the hand of government.

III. Non Agenda - Cases in which, and measures by which, that end will not be

promoted by the hand of government.

II. Population

IV, V, VI. The same heads, {as with reference to wealth}.+

VII Finance. III. Wealth and Population together.

viz. matters of fact forming the subject of the [...?] [...?] Statisticks.

VIII. Noscenda - including Data and Danda. {Matters of fact, requisite to be

known as a ground for Agenda and Non-Agenda.} /reporters commissioned or

uncommissioned Government and [...?] furnish facts: if Adam Smith has in most

instances with a superior degree of success, set himself to trace /point/ out

the connection between those facts./ with a reference to the Agenda and

Non-Agenda with relation to which they may respectively be of use:(c) a

reference necessary to justify the expence, trouble and vexation attending the

collection in each instance.

(a) By Adam Smith, it is considered directly and constantly, only as a Science:

indirectly and occasionally only as an Art.

(b) In this is included the cases (actual and possible) for Preventions and

Patents.

(c) of Noscenda The most constructive indication I know of is that given by

Necker:[?] Ashmore[?] - Rex[?] Fin. Town[?] but without reference to particular

uses, as determined by particular Agenda or Non-Agenda. The most instructive

body of Data the world has yet seen is that furnished during Mr Pitt's

Administration principally by the House of Commons Committee of Finance of which

the pretended reimpression is but a mutilated extract.

+ Here, The Budget of Sponte Acta contains not much, but every thing: that of Non

Agenda every thing that the budget of Sponte acta contains. }
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  • Title: [25 Aug 1801 0 A Polit. Economy]
    Description: 25 Aug 1801

    0 A

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    { Subjects for so many Books -

    I Wealth.

    I Sponte Acta: Steps taken by individuals of their own accord towards the

    encrease of the mass of natural wealth.+ {II Non-Agenda}

    II. Population

    The same heads. IV. Sponte actae every thing V. Non Agenda - almost every thing.

    VI. {Non}-Agenda - next to nothing.

    III. Finance

    Sponte Acta, now[?] - Remain VII, VIII Agenda and Non Agenda.

    Finance operates in toto in diminution of wealth: the object or end in view is

    to render the diminution as small as possible and as pure from collateral

    vexation and inconvenience in every shape

    IV. Weather, Population, and Finance, together

    Ineligible measures on the part of Government. Almost all that have been

    employed or proposed in this view. III Agenda. Eligible measures on the part of

    Government. In point of effect and importance, in importance of Sponte Acta, and

    Non Agenda, very inconsiderable.

    IX. Noscenda - i:e: Statisticks: including Data and Danda: between which the

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    different no[?] yet in each community and each portion of time.

    Collection and publication of Statistical Facts attended with expence, no

    institution should be set on foot for the furnishing of any such articles,

    without a previous indication of the benefit derivable from such knowledge, and

    a conviction that it will pay for the expence. But the expence necessary for

    one, may be sufficient for many.

    + The grounds of the distinction between Agenda and Non Agenda to be given under

    Agenda: under Non-Agenda, the particular measures, as compared with the above

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  • Title: [[...?] Aug. 1801 Polit. Economy]
    Description: [...?] Aug. 1801

    Polit. Economy

    A I

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    1

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    I. Sponte Acta - Cases in which, and measures or operations by which the end is

    promoted, by individuals, acting for themselves; and without any special

    interference exercised with this special view on the part of government; any

    beyond the distribution made and maintained, and the protection afforded by the

    civil and penal branches of the Law. What the legislator and the Minister of the

    Interior have it in their power to do towards encrease either of wealth or

    population is in comparison with what is done of course, and without thinking of

    it by the Judge, and his assistant the Minister of Police.

    Inclination, knowledge, power knowledge - all concurring in the requisite

    degree, the effect takes place the end in view is accomplished; any one failing,

    it fails of being accomplished

    In general /In a general point of view/, inclination equal to the production of

    an unlimited quantity of wealth, can not be wanting: knowledge (a branch of

    power), as little, being the fruit of inclination, power - what is requisite of

    it beside knowledge - chiefly pecuniary capital has its limits in the instance

    of each individual - is of course wanting as to every thing beyond those limits,

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    were out of nothing: it can not be given to any one individual without having

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  • Title: [[...?] March[?] 1804 Polit. Economy]
    Description: [...?] March[?] 1804

    Polit. Economy

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    { Ch. 2. Leading Features

    ' 5. Wealth I. Sponte acta

    The national wealth is the sum of the particular masses of the matter of wealth belonging respectively to the several individuals of whom the political community - the nation - is composed. Every atom of that matter added by any such individual to his own stock without being taken from that of any other individual is so much added to the stock of national wealth.

    To add to his own particular stock and to add in such period of time more than use or otherwise is taken from it in that same portion of time is with a very few exceptions, is the constant aim and occupation of every individual in every civilized nation. Enjoyment is the offspring of wealth; wealth of labour. What men want from government is - not incitement to labour, but security against disturbance: - security to each for his portion of the matter of wealth, while labouring to acquire it or occupied in enjoying it. For the purpose of encreasing wealth, individuals require neither to be forced to labour nor allured. The want of that which is not to be had without labour, is sufficient force: the assurance of being able to enjoy it is sufficient allurement. Leave men to themselves, each man is occupied either in the acquisition of wealth (the instrument of enjoyment) or in some actual enjoyment which in the eyes of the only competent[?] judge, is of more value. If idleness is to be discouraged, it is not because it is the non-acquisition of wealth, but because it is the source of crimes.

    Whoever takes upon him to add to national wealth by coercive and thence vexatious measures stands engaged to make out two propositions: 1. that more wealth will be produced by the coercion than would have been without it: 2. that the comfort flowing from the extra wealth thus produced, is more than equivalent to whatever vexation may be found attached to the measure by which it was produced.}

    {If Non agenda have been acta, the doing away of these malá acta may form so many additions to the catalogue of Agenda.}