10 March 1804

+ Note

Polit. Economy

Method Addenda?

{I. Wealth III {Non} Agenda}

1

{General description of Agenda at public expence for the encrease of general

opulence. Importations, of which[?], if set on foot by individuals, whether

singly or in associations of limited extent the which expence would rest on the

undertakers, while on foot by an individual, the whole outgoings would be

defrayed at his expence /expence would rest upon him/, while the profit, though

more than affording an ample remuneration /retribution/ /how ample so ever/ for

the expence, would never return into the pocket from whence the expence came

/not return to him/, in a proportion sufficient to pay for the expence. What is

thus said of /in regard to/ a single individual may be applied to almost any

limited number of individuals.}

{ Note

Examples. Establishments for the propagation of knowledge: viz: on the subject

of those arts, on which the augmentation or preservation of the matter of

wealth, in any of its shape depends. In England

1. The Board of Agriculture.

2 The Royal Institution

3. The Veterinary School.

4. The Royal Academy: viz. to a certain degree, if considered in a certain point

of view

In each of these several instances, the amount of profit reasonably to be

expected, is beyond calculation; while the individuals among whom it may come to

be shared, are equally out of the reach of conjecture. As /On the other hand, in

the character of/ a source of profit, there is no limited assemblage or class of

individuals, to whom the establishment of any one of these institutions would at

the same time have been practicable, have afforded a reasonable expectation of

receiving payment for the expence.

5. An illustrious and more useful example, because more needful as well as more

extensive than all those English ones put together supposing the execution to

correspond with the design is afforded by the Universities and other education

establishments now setting on foot in the Russian Empire.

6. France, on the same supposition, may be referred to as another.

Of the recently-undertaken Canal, for a communication from Sea to Sea through

Scotland, the justification will be to be sought for in the same principles,

though the preponderance of profit over expence, can scarce expected to be

/prove/ equally considerable. Of the profit, part though to an unassignable

amount will {be reaped by} /distributes itself among/ a limited, and perhaps

individually assignable, description of individuals: other part {will be

distributed /distributes itself/,} in portions altogether unassignable, among

individuals more clearly unassignable: viz: among the community at large.

Suppose the profit to the local proprietors and other neighbouring inhabitants

adequate, and suppose a fund, adequate to the whole expence obtainable from that

same source, the propriety of a contribution at the public expence falls to the

ground.}