Introduction, paragraph 15

[De la richesse commerciale, Sismondi, 1803, Original, 13-14]

   L’économie politique est la science du Législateur, s’il n’en posséde [possède] pas l’ensemble il court risque de contrarier par ses loix [lois] les progrès de la prospérité nationale. Mais toutes ses parties ne sont pas d’une égale importance pour lui, il en [(1)] est qu’il peut ne considérer que comme une belle théorie servant à éclairer les faits qu’il a sous les yeux; c’est pour lui une étude contemplative qui développe les facultés de son esprit, sans être d’un usage direct et pratique; l’application de quelques autres ne se présente que rarement et pour des cas particuliers; mais il en est aussi qu’il peut à peine perdre de vue un moment sans s’exposer à des erreurs dangereuses. Celle que nous avons entrepris de traiter, est de ce genre. Tous les États de l’Europe ont des loix [lois] dispositives et générales sur le commerce portées dans le but d’accroître la richesse nationale; il faut donc que le Législateur, soit qu’il veuille les maintenir ou les corriger, se fasse une idée précise de la nature et des causes de cette richesse.

[Translation]

   Political economy is the science of the legislator. If he is not well informed of it as a whole, he runs the risk of obstructing the progress of the national prosperity by means of his legislation. Nevertheless all branches of political economy are not of equal importance for him, and he can only consider some branches [(1)] as good theories, useful in exposition of the affaires he sees; for him they are speculative studies which develop the faculties of his mind, without being of direct or practical use. Some other branches are applied only to a few cases and only to particular cases. However, yet other branches are what he has hardly lost sight of in a moment without being exposed to dangerous errors. It is this kind of branches of political economy that we have tried to deal with. All of the European states have dispositive and general laws on commerce with the view to increasing the national wealth. It is, therefore, necessary that the legislator should have a precise idea of the nature and causes of this wealth, whether he will maintain or amend the laws.

[Translator's note]

(1) Judging from the semantic context, the word "en" seems to me to be a pronoun for "de ses parties," (the direct object of the verb "considérer"), but this interpretation may not be right in that it is to be referred to thereafter by singular nouns such as "une théorie" and "une étude." Your suggestion would be much appreciated.

[13/01/2009 22:10]

According to Mr. MichelHOTE, my interpretation is right, and the fact that some parts are later specified as a theory and a study is not important (merci beaucoup!). The revised version of my translation is as below.

Nevertheless all parts of political economy are not of equal importance for him, and he can only consider some parts as a good theory, useful in exposition of the affaires he sees; the theory, for him, is a speculative study which develops the faculties of his mind, without being of direct or practical use. Some other parts are applied only to a few cases and only to particular cases. However, yet other parts are what he has hardly lost sight of in a moment without being exposed to dangerous errors. It is this kind of parts of political economy that we have tried to deal with.

Preface, paragraph 10

[De la richesse commerciale, Sismondi, 1803, Original, xvi-xvii]

   Le genre de connoissances [connaissances] qu’elle demande, indique aussi la tournure d’esprit qu’elle requiert; comme exercice des facultés mentales, comme formant [(1)] au grand art d’observer, cette science peut aller de pair avec les plus éminentes. L’observation donne à l’esprit de la justesse, et jamais cette qualité, nécessaire partout, n’a été plus éminemment requise que pour l’économie politique: celui qui l’étudie, cheminant toujours entre les préjugés et les systèmes, toujours en cherche de la vérité, et toujours en danger de la dépasser, tomberoit [tomberait] d’erreurs en erreurs, dès qu’il se seroit [serait] une fois contenté d’une seule idée louche ou obscure, dès qu’il n’auroit [aurait] plus assis ses raisonnemen[t]s sur les bases de la logique et d’un jugement droit, dès qu’il abandonneroit [abandonnerait] cette saine critique qui distingue les faits avérés d’avec les rumeurs populaires, ou les exagérations de l’esprit de parti.

[Translation]

   The kind of knowledge required by political economy also points out the cast of mind it demands; as exercise of mental faculties, as element in the great art of observation, this science can go hand in hand with the most distinguished sciences. Observation promotes the mind of exactness. Nowhere was this quality, though necessary everywhere, more badly wanted than in political economy. The student of political economy, always walking on the tight rope between the prejudices and the systems, always searching for the truth, and always being in danger of overtaking it, would fall in error after error, if he were once satisfied only with a unnatural or esoteric idea, if he put his reasonings away from logic and right judgement, if he abandoned that sound criticism which distinguishes stylized facts from popular rumours or exaggerations of party spirit.

[Translator's note]

(1) At first sight I found this word "formant" to be the present particle of the verb "former," but I have on second thoughts considered that if this were so this would have to have an object, and have interpreted this as a noun. Yet I'm not sure whether the interpretation is right or not, and it would be much appreciated should you comment upon this point.

[29/01/2009 09:10]

Following Dr. Ikeda's advice, I revise a part of my translation as below. (merci beaucoup!).

The student of political economy, always walking (deleted) between the prejudices and the systems, always searching for the truth, and always being in danger of overtaking it, would fall in error after error, if he were once satisfied only with a unnatural or esoteric idea, if he put his reasonings away from logic and right judgement, if he abandoned that sound criticism which distinguishes proven facts from popular rumours or exaggerations of party spirit.

Preface, paragraph 06

[De la richesse commerciale, Sismondi, 1803, Original, ix-x]

   Je vois dans la science du Gouvernement deux branches importantes, dont chacune se subdivise en un grand nombre de moindres rameaux; l’une a pour but les principes de sa constitution, l’autre, les règles de sa conduite: la première par l’établissement de la vraie liberté, élève le caractère du citoyen à la grandeur, à la noblesse et à la vertu, tandis que par l’affermissement de l’ordre, elle pourvoit à sa sûreté et à son repos: la second, par l’adoption d’une sage législation économique et financière fait fleurir les arts, le commerce et l’agriculture, élevant ainsi une nation par la richesse et la puissance au plus haut degré de prospérité. La première partie de la tâche de l’administration dépend de la constitution même du Souverain, et du contrat qui a précédé la formation du Gouvernement: cette partie de la science n’est pas d’un usage habituel, elle doit être réservée aux hommes libres, et aux siècles libres; elle enseigne quels sont les élémen[t]s des bonnes constitutions, les bases sur lesquelles on peut asseoir la vraie liberté, et les appuis par lesquels on peut assurer les droits des citoyens; c’est elle qui constitue la politique proprement dite.

[Translation]

   To my thought the science of Government has two important branches, each of which is subdivided into a great number of lesser branches; one deals with the principles of its constitution, and the other with the rules of its conduct. The first is to raise the character of the citizens to greatness, nobleness, and virtuousness by means of establishment of true liberty on one hand, and to provide them with security and peace by means of reinforcement of order on the other hand. The second is to promote arts [manufactures], trade, and agriculture by means of adoption of a wise economic and financial legislation, and consequently to raise a nation to a higher level of prosperity by wealth and power. The first part of the task of the administration depends on the constitution of the sovereign and on the contract which led to the formation of the government. This first branch of the science is not of general use and it must be reserved for liberal men and liberal ages. It tells us what the elements of the sound constitutions are, what the cornerstones of true liberty are, and what the foundations of the civil rights are. This is what constitutes politics proper.

[29/01/2009 08:10]

Following Dr. Ikeda's advice, I revise a part of my translation as below. (merci beaucoup!).

In my eyes the science of Government has two important branches, each of which is subdivided into a great number of lesser branches.