date

[...?] Aug. 1801 Polit. Economy
[...?] Aug. 1801

Polit. Economy

A I

Method

1. Sponte Acta

1

2

D

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,

but can not be created by government as inclination and knowledge may, as it

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

been first taken to equal or rather greater amount from others.
Similar Items
  • Title: [24 Aug 1801 A I Polit. Economy]
    Description: 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. }
  • Title: [25 Aug 1801 0 A Polit. Economy]
    Description: 25 Aug 1801

    0 A

    Polit. Economy

    Method

    2

    { 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

    field of Noscenda is divided in portions which of course would be found

    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

    grounds.
  • Title: [30 Aug 1801 Polit Economy A1]
    Description: 30 Aug 1801

    Polit Economy

    A1 V

    Method

    1. Sponte Acta

    1

    * { 1. Sponte Acta - Here follow the first steps in an analytical survey, {in the

    form of an Encyclopedical tree,} shewing how to draw an arch round the subject,

    and how to mount or discover what remains to be invented or discovered in this

    quarter of the field of human knowledge.

    Causes of Wealth or the /say/ matter of wealth are

    1. Final - Well-being.

    2. Material - Matter - considered in respect of its possessing or being capable

    of possessing value: viz: subserviency to well-being - the final cause.

    3. Efficient - viz: Motion.

    1. Well-being - its modification ranged in the order of their importance -

    1. Subsistence (present)

    2. Security in respect of defence: viz: against the evils to which human nature

    is exposed: particularly from the action of exterior agents agents exterior to a

    man's own body. Security in respect of future subsistence see Subsistence

    3. Enjoyment - viz: mere enjoyment distinct from the maintenance of subsistence,

    and the contemplation of security.}