Letter from Wiliam Edward Hickson of 20 West Smithfield, [London] to Francis Place, 5 Jan [1832]. '... I read ... with great surprise that you participate in the opinion of most of the economists that a change in the distribution of property would not improve the condition of the great mass of the community. Allow me to draw your attention in order to show how distribution affects production to an article [on 'The Rights of Industry'] written by me ... [for Carpenters Political Magazine]'.
Autograph, with signature. Dated as 5 Jan 1831 [sic, recte 1832].
An autograph draft of Place's reply is on the dorse of the first leaf: '... The activity of your pen indicates a desire for reading, observing and thinking, and these in time will prevent you from dogmatically condemning what you do not comprehend, and which it is hardly to be expected you should fully understand. Then too you will cease to attribute to others, notions they do not entertain, and to build theories thereon of your own mistakes. Persevere and in ten years time you will be as wise as you are now foolish, and whatever you may think of this note and the writer now, lay it by 'till that time and then I have no doubt your opinion of both will be correct.' Dated 6 Jan 1832.
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