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Volume of letters arranged alphabetically by correspondent, with usually no more than one letter per person, each correspondent identified at the top of the page on which the letter is mounted, in the form of an autograph book.

reminder he is to dine with him

Trinity Lodge - WW thinks RJ will get some good suggestions from Willis [Robert Willis] if he puts his case to him. This is what occurs to WW: 'In every machine or rather in every mechanical work you have three things to consider - moving power, train of mechanism connecting the power with the work - work done'. RJ's 'question seems to be how much the value of the work done exceeds the value of the moving power. I reply, it exceeds it by the value of the mechanism, at least, otherwise people would not acquire the mechanism'. WW gives more details giving Willis's example of a knife grinder. WW's axiom is 'the value of the work done must be the value of the moving power + the value of the machinery'. The 'productive power of nations must be compared by comparing the moving forces + the whole quantity of working mechanism; for the latter would not exist if it did not add its own value to that of the moving frame'. Willis and WW 'agreed to call the measure of moving power Labouring Force - an expression which has considerable advantages - the French term is Travail'. The University has petitioned for the Welsh Bishoprics [see WW to RJ, 2 Dec. 1842].

Written from Cambridge.

Tithe Commmission - Thanks WW for his account of the election: 'I am glad you were able to vote for Mill without injuring Wordsworth [Christopher Wordsworth junior]'. RJ is 'puzzled for some measure of the addition of human power made by tools[,] machinery etc. independently of any moving force besides the human frame. Dupin [Charles Dupin] and others confine themselves in comparing the relative productive powers of nations to a comparison of moving forces as wind['] steam[,] horses etc'. However 'give one man a spade[,] hoe and pickaxe leave another without them - what a difference between a population well supplied throughout with the best implements and machinery and a population ill supplied though their motive force be assumed the same. Take a cotton mill and a 80 horse power steam engine - but then look inside the mill and see the mechanical contrivances - do not they add also to the productive power of the population - why do I scribble all this why I want to ask you if you think Willis [Robert Willis] would give any thought to the subject if I wrote a short paper on it and sent it to him'. 'In estimating the progress and present state of industry throughout the world it is of essential importance and has been overlooked'.