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In the preface to Volume II of _Capital_, Engels discussed the relationship between Marx's
concept of surplus-value and earlier formulations by Smith and Ricardo. Engels mentioned
the importance of the anonymous pamphlet, _The Source and Remedy of the National
Difficulties_, and cited Marx's comment, "This little known pamphlet . . . represents an
essential advance over Ricardo. It directly designates surplus-value . . . as surplus
labour. . . . This has already been stated by Adam Smith and forms a main factor in
Ricardo's analysis. But they did not say so nor fix it anywhere in absolute form."
The following quote is from _An Essay on Public Happiness, investigating the state of
human nature, under each of its particular appearances, through the several periods of
history, to the present time_ by the Marquis de Chastellux, published in 1772 (translation
published 1774). In _Inventing America_, Garry Wills mentioned Chastellux and his
calculation in connection with the phrase "the pursuit of happiness" in the Declaration of
Independence.
"First: how many days in the year, or hours in the day, can a man work, without either
incommoding himself, or becoming unhappy? one may perceive, at the first glance, that this
question refers to the nature of the climate; to the constitution, and to the strength of
men; to their education, to their aliments; &c. &c. all cases, which may be easily
resolved.
"Secondly, how many days must a man work in the year, or, how many hours must he work in
the day, to procure for himself that which is necessary to his preservation, and his ease?
having resolved these questions, it will be no difficult matter to determine how many days
in the year, or how many hours in the day, may remain for this man to dispose of: that is
to say, how many may be demanded of him, without robbing him either of the means of
subsistence, or of welfare; so that now, the whole matter rests upon an examination,
whether the performance of that duty, which the sovereign exacts from him, be within, or
beyond the time, which each man can spare from his absolutely necessary avocations."
The section of the essay where the quote comes from contains a number of rhetorical
elements that, in my view, suggest an influence on the anonymous 1821 pamphlet, _The
Source and Remedy of the National Difficulties, deduced from principles of political
economy, in a letter to Lord John Russell_. Most important is the treatment of the central
theme of "disposable time". For Chastellux, "the time which each man can spare from his
absolutely necessary avocations" can also be expressed as "how many days in the year, or
how many hours in the day, [that] remain for this man to dispose of". For the author of
the 1821 pamphlet, "the WEALTH OF A NATION CONSISTS IN ITS RESERVED SURPLUS LABOUR by
which I mean the reserved labour beyond its usual and necessary consumption [emphasis in
the original]" and further, "when I shall hereafter speak of the surplus labour of a man,
I mean by it, the representative of all the labour of the individual beyond what is
exclusively appropriated to the maintenance and enjoyment of himself and family. . ." As
in Chastellux, the alternative expression for the "surplus labour", or wealth, is
disposable time: "wealth is liberty -- liberty to seek recreation -- liberty to enjoy life
-- liberty to improve the mind: it is disposable time, and nothing more."
Besides the theme of disposable time, both essays disparage the idea that ancient
monumental works are a sign of public happiness. Both texts reflect on their own novelty
and apologize for possible difficulties to the reader. These disclaimers have all the
appearance of formalities of the genre and the times. But taken together with the similar
treatments of disposable time and the surplus/spare labour time, the rhetorical
resemblances are, to say the least, intriguing.
On ancient monuments
Chastellux:
"I do not think that any nation hath been happy, because it may have erected immense
pyramids, or magnificent palaces. On the contrary, I presume that these suberb edifices,
and vast monuments, indicated the poor condition, and limited abilities of the people who
assisted in raising of them."
Source and Remedy:
"From all the works I have read on the subject, the richest nations in the world are those
where the greatest revenue is or can be raised; as if the power of compelling or inducing
men to labour twice as much at the mills of Gaza for the enjoyment of the Philistines,
were proof of any thing but a tyranny or an ignorance twice as powerful."
On difficulty and novelty:
Chastellux:
"As this truth results from very extensive principles, I cannot dispense
with the necessity of explaining them. They belong to the science of
Economicks; a science equally difficult, and obscure; to define it, hath
been the business of multitudes; but to agree to those definitions the lot
of few. These principles will, then, have some merit, should they prove
true, and clear: and I dare flatter myself that, in spite of the quantity of
writings, which have appeared on this subject, they will not be destitute of
novelty. It is indeed a cold and dry discussion; but I should be guilty of
injustice to the age in which I live, and to my readers, were I to feel an
inclination to avoid it."
Source and Remedy:
"I was confirmed in this intention [i.e., addressing the letter to Lord Russell] by an
Essay, in a work generally attributed to your Lordship, wherein you acknowledge the little
satisfaction you have hitherto received from the contradictory opinions of writers on this
subject. They are indeed, my Lord, contradictory, not only the one to the other, but to
our best feelings and plainest sense. How far my own opinions will be conclusive with your
Lordship's, I dare not hazard a conjecture; but as many of them are uncommon, they may, as
Hume says, 'repay some cost to understand them.' But, my Lord, if they are true, they have
most important consequences; I therefore earnestly intreat you not to reject them without
a patient and attentive examination."
"In the consideration of this important question, we must advert to and reason from
principles; I shall proceed therefore immediately to lay down such as are of immediate
consequence to the argument."
Tom Walker
Bowen Island, BC
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