[Letter to] R.S.Cree

　　　　　　　　　　 　　　　　 　 Avignon
　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　May 17, 1869                                  
    　Dear Sir 
   　　 I thank you for your letter
as I am always glad to have my
opinions and arguments subjected to
the criticism of any one who has studied 
the subject. It appears to me, however,
that your remarks do not touch the 
scientific exactness of the propositions 
laid down in my article in the 
Fortnightly Review, but only the 
practical importance of the cases
to which they are applicable. Now,
though I am far from agreeing with
you as to this, I have not discussed 
it in the article. My object, on this 
occasion, was to show that the door is
not shut on the discussion of the
subject, by an insuperable law of nature.
    It is one thing to say that labourers
by combination, cannnot raise wages
(which is the doctrine of many political 
economists) and another to say that 
it is not for their interest to force 
up wages so high as to reduce profits
below what is a sufficient inducement
to saving and to the increase of 
capital. 
    I have written a second article
on the subject, which will be 
printed in the next number of 
the Fortnightly, and which, though 
it will not satisfy you on all points,
will, I think, show you that I do
not disregard either the moral or
the prudential obligations of 
Trades Unions. I am Dear Sir
　　　　　　　　　　　Yours very faithfully 
                    　　　　　　　　　　 J.S.Mill 
R.S.Cree Esq