172 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN

Thus if I were to ask, ¢ What determined the
length of the race course?” and the answer
were, ‘ The convenience of the spectators, who
could not have seen the horses at a greater
distance ;’ or, ¢ The choice of the subscribers ;’
then it is plain, that by the word ‘determined,’
I was understood to mean ‘ determined objectively,”
 in relation to the existence of the object;
in other words, what caused the race-course to
be this length rather than another length: but
if the answer were, ¢ An actual admeasurement,’
it would then be plain, that by the word ¢ determined,”
 I had been understood to mean ¢ determined
 subjectively,” i. e. in relation to our
knowledge ; what ascertained it*?”
The writer just quoted is wrong, however,
in supposing Mr. Ricardo to be free from ambiguity
 in this point. A very cursory inspection
 of the Principles of Political Economy and
Taxation will show, that he has fallen into
the same confusion as other economists ; and it
is astonishing to find the author of the Dia-*

 London Magazine, Dec. 1823. p. 588: article eniitled
 ¢¢ Measure of Value.”