V. Mathematical Ewpositim of some of the Leading 

 Doctrines in Mr. Ricardo's "Principles of Political 

 Economy and Taxation." 



By the Rev. W. WHEWELL, A.M. 



FELLOW AND TUTOR OF TRINITY COLLEGE. 



[Read April IS, and May 2, 1831.] 



1. Among a number of those who have recently cultivated 

 the study of Political Economy, an opinion appears to prevail 

 that, by the labours of Mr. Ricardo and his followers, a large 

 mass of our knowledge on this subject has been reduced to the 

 form of a series of exact logical deductions from a few simple 

 and evident principles. If this were really the case— if the fun- 

 damental principles were completely enumerated and clearly esta- 

 blished, and if their consequences were truly and fully traced— 

 this branch of knowledge might rightly be considered as having 

 assumed an exact and scientific character. My present purpose 

 is not to examine how far these claims are well founded ; but to 

 shew in what manner those portions of the speculations here re- 

 ferred to, which pretend to such a scientific form, may be ad- 

 vantageously submitted to mathematical investigation. I have 

 already, in a former communication, observed that when our ob- 

 ject is to deduce the results of a few precise and universal prin- 

 ciples, mathematical processes offer to us both the readiest and 

 safest method ; since by them we can most easily overcome all the 



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