He Opened A Matchmaking Agency In 18Th Century London [EN]: Chapter 14

14. The Daughter’s Suitor Is Suspicious

◈ London Intelligence Club

March 11, 1776. Monday Evening.

The club was buzzing about Professor Adam Smith’s newly published book, ‘The Wealth of Nations,’ which had been released last week.

** The Wealth of Nations: A seminal work of modern economic theory by Adam Smith. A masterpiece of classical economics that has profoundly impacted modern economic thought.

The atmosphere was particularly lively due to a spirited debate with Sir Walter Ricardo, who had rushed to London to celebrate the book’s publication.

Sir Walter Ricardo, usually residing elsewhere, was a reclusive but brilliant economist, a staunch supporter of Professor Adam Smith, and a founding member of the Intelligence Club.

A Baron posed a question to Sir Walter Ricardo.

“I am aware of Professor Smith’s excellent insights. However, doesn’t a country truly become wealthy by exporting more than it imports, carefully preserving its resources?”

“According to Smith’s theory, if imports increase to match exports, wouldn’t the country’s gold and silver reserves flow out, inevitably leading to economic hardship? What are your thoughts, Sir Ricardo?”

Adam Smith was among the first economists to critique mercantilism, which at the time advocated for export-oriented protectionism.

Consequently, the core concepts of Adam Smith’s ‘The Wealth of Nations’ were likely unfamiliar and perhaps even unsettling to members long accustomed to mercantilist principles.

Sir Walter Ricardo smiled and countered.

“Baron, before I answer, may I ask you a question?”

“Please do.”

“Is it easy to produce high-quality wine in Scotland comparable to that of France?”

“Scotland? Of course not. The climate and soil are vastly different.”

“Precisely. If Scotland attempted to produce wine at the same level as France, it would cost at least thirty times more. Economically, it’s far more profitable for Scotland to import wine from France.”

“Well… that’s probably true.”

“Conversely, Scotland can produce textiles at a much lower cost than France. Therefore, it would be more profitable for France to import textiles from Scotland rather than manufacturing them directly.”

“Hmm…”

“Each country possesses products in which it has an absolute advantage. Thus, importing certain goods can be far more beneficial. If a country focuses solely on exports and adopts a protectionist stance, it will inevitably lose out in the long run.”

The Baron nodded.

“I see your point. So, according to Professor Smith, if we produce goods where we have an absolute advantage and trade them, both exports and imports will be stimulated, simultaneously increasing the wealth of both countries?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Sir Walter Ricardo, smiling at the thoughtful expressions of the members, addressed the group.

“Do you still believe that a country’s wealth lies solely in possessing vast quantities of gold and silver?”

One of the members tilted his head and responded.

“If a country holds a lot of gold and silver, wouldn’t it be considered wealthy?”

“That may be true in absolute terms. But even if such assets increase, if production doesn’t also increase, the country cannot truly prosper. A wealthy country is one where the majority of its citizens have ample necessities for consumption and use.

Therefore, Professor Smith focuses on a completely different perspective on national wealth, emphasizing a life where all citizens are more prosperous. I believe Professor Smith’s theory is the most perfect economic framework for helping our society thrive.”

Everyone was nodding in agreement when a voice cut through the air.

“Adam Smith’s ‘The Wealth of Nations’ is undoubtedly a masterpiece that will endure in human history, but it does have some shortcomings that prevent it from being a perfect economic theory.”

Sir Walter Ricardo and the members turned toward the speaker.

Teo, arriving slightly late, entered the room.

The club members greeted Teo’s arrival with enthusiasm.

“Haha! Mr. Teo Sanders! Why are you only arriving now? Professor Adam Smith couldn’t attend due to his book launch, and without you, we were missing the insightful discussions and feeling quite disappointed.”

“I apologize. The carriage broke down on the way.”

Samuel Johnson proudly led Teo to Sir Walter Ricardo.

“Sir Ricardo, this is Mr. Teo Sanders, the brilliant mind in our club whom Professor Smith has praised so highly. Why don’t you engage in a conversation with him?”

Sir Walter Ricardo had been curious about Teo Sanderson, having heard about him several times before coming to London.

Teo and Ricardo exchanged greetings and sat facing each other.

“Hmm… Mr. Sanderson, you’ve had a chance to read ‘The Wealth of Nations,’ I presume?”

“Yes, I spent the entire weekend reading it. It’s truly a remarkable work. I was deeply impressed.”

In reality, ‘The Wealth of Nations’ is a massive tome of 1,000 pages, written in a complex style that makes it a challenging read.

Moreover, its sentence structure differs significantly from modern English, further increasing the difficulty.

It was understandable that only a small number of people had actually read the entire book, despite its widespread fame.

However, after returning to the 18th century and experiencing the realities of England and Europe firsthand, Teo found it easier to grasp than he had in the modern era. Upon finishing the last chapter, he understood Adam Smith’s intentions more clearly than before.

“Then, let me ask you directly. If you were to summarize the essence of this book in a single word…?”

“It seems inadequate to encapsulate such a vast and important work in just one word. However, if I were to use a few keywords, they would be: capital accumulation through free competition, the benefits of international division of labor based on absolute advantage, the imbalance of wealth and income, and the resulting social inequality and distribution issues…”

The more Walter Ricardo spoke with Teo, the more impressed he became by Teo’s profound understanding. Teo possessed a surprising depth of knowledge regarding ‘The Wealth of Nations’ and economic theory in general.

After a lengthy discussion, Sir Ricardo posed a critical question about ‘The Wealth of Nations’.

“While I firmly believe that Professor Smith’s economic theory is the best available, what do you consider to be its most significant flaw, Mr. Sanders?”

“I wholeheartedly agree that Professor Smith’s book is a masterpiece of economic thought.

However, Professor Smith’s theory emphasizes the equilibrium state of economic activity and applies the theory in such situations, but in reality, the economy can always face unexpected unstable situations. I wonder if he overlooked that point a little.”

“Economic instability… Could you elaborate?”

Adam Smith’s theory was developed before the full impact of the Industrial Revolution was felt. During that period, even with a ‘laissez-faire’ system (where the state doesn’t interfere with the market economy), human self-interest and competition could, as he argued, allow the market to function effectively on its own.

However, as capitalism advanced dramatically after the Industrial Revolution, monopolies formed, and the Great Depression introduced numerous unforeseen variables.

Teo understood this historical progression better than most.

“Free competition and the division of labor will undoubtedly generate immense wealth compared to the present, and many participating countries will experience unprecedented capital growth.

But simultaneously, this creates the risk of widespread economic depression spreading globally, even from minor disruptions. For example…”

Sir Walter Ricardo was astonished by Teo’s detailed critique of ‘The Wealth of Nations’ and his proposed alternatives.

As the club meeting concluded, Ricardo asked Samuel Johnson.

“Mr. Johnson, I’ve never encountered anyone as intelligent as Mr. Sanderson in my life.”

“Hahaha, what did I tell you? He’s truly exceptional. It’s just that he lacks a prominent background and possesses no ambition for personal gain.”

“If his background is modest… what does he do for a living?”

“He used to run a trading business in Bristol, but he moved to London and is now a marriage broker [matchmaker].”

Upon hearing the words “marriage broker,” Sir Walter Ricardo was taken aback.

“What? A marriage broker? Is that really true?”

“Yes. In fact, he’s responsible for two successful matches among our club members.”

“That’s quite unexpected. How can someone with such economic insight and vision be content as a mere matchmaker?”

“We were initially puzzled as well, but after hearing his reasoning, it made some sense.”

“What reasoning?”

“As you observed, Mr. Sanderson possesses remarkable insight. But it extends beyond social phenomena and economics. He also has an exceptional ability to judge character. He uses this talent to connect compatible men and women.”

“…Still.”

“We often dismiss marriage matchmaking, but isn’t marriage the most significant event in a person’s life? Moreover, families are built upon these unions, and families collectively form a nation.

Sanderson seems to view it as his mission to use his keen insight to find the most suitable partners for this crucial event. In fact, the London social scene is abuzz with his successful matches.”

“Huh, is that so?”

Sir Walter Ricardo nodded, gazing at Teo, who was sipping tea in a corner.

‘I’ve truly never met such a unique individual…’

◈ A few days later.

Teo’s house in Hampstead, London.

As Teo returned home from his walk, he noticed an unfamiliar, elegant carriage parked in front of his gate.

‘Who could it be?’

He had a marriage consultation scheduled for the weekend, but no appointments for today.

Just then, the maid came outside.

“Lucy, do we have a guest?”

“Yes. But I don’t recognize her. I’ve shown her to the reception room.”

“Oh, really? Good job.”

Teo nodded and walked toward the house, intrigued.

Having lived in 18th-century England for some time, he could roughly gauge wealth based on the carriage’s design.

The carriage before him was top-of-the-line, the kind only very wealthy families could afford. The equivalent of a Rolls Royce in the 21st century, perhaps?

Clunk-

Opening the door to the reception room, he saw two women sitting on chairs, who stood up with slight surprise and curtsied.

Teo returned the greeting and quickly assessed them.

‘Mother and daughter. Judging by the mother’s attire and demeanor, they aren’t from the aristocracy. However, the quality of their clothes, accessories, and the daughter’s dress suggests they’re definitely from a wealthy family… Hmm, most likely from the merchant class who have amassed considerable wealth.’

As Teo sat down, Lucy entered with tea.

“Please, have some tea.”

“Thank you.”

Teo took a sip and addressed the middle-aged woman, presumably the mother.

“May I ask what brings you to see me?”

“Ah, yes…”

The middle-aged woman seemed a bit flustered but gathered her courage and began.

“First, please forgive our rudeness in visiting without an appointment. I happened to hear about Mr. Teo Sanderson at a bazaar and came directly here.”
The successful marriage stories of Miss Lydia Godwin and Miss Sarah Clark, who had struggled to find suitable partners, were widely discussed among London mothers, who were intensely focused on their children’s marriages.

Furthermore, the fact that these matches were made by a young intellectual highly regarded by the gentlemen of the Intelligence Club, rather than a common, ill-informed matchmaker, made him even more appealing to these mothers.

In an era plagued by matchmakers with limited information and a tendency to arrange poor matches, the emergence of a reliable matchmaker was like an oasis for mothers desperate for good marriages for their daughters.

This was especially true for mothers like the one before Teo, whose subtle expressions betrayed a mixture of fear and sadness regarding their daughter’s marriage prospects.

Teo glanced at the daughter sitting beside her mother.

She had clear skin, delicate hands that showed no signs of hardship, and a composed expression. However, the occasional tightening of her lower eyelids hinted at suppressed anger.

‘Fear and sadness from the mother, and a hint of anger from the daughter…’

Most likely, this was a case of a mother opposing her daughter’s relationship with a particular man, while the daughter was determined to marry him.

At that moment, the mother spoke again, hesitantly.

“According to what I heard at the bazaar, Mr. Sanderson has a remarkable ability to understand people and introduce them to their perfect match.”

“Ah… yes.”

“So, I was hoping you could assess the man my daughter is currently seeing. My husband and I don’t approve of him, no matter how we look at it.”

“I understand.”

“I’ve been trying to find a way to contact you to discuss this, but I couldn’t find any information, so I came here unannounced…”
The mother’s voice trailed off, her face reflecting desperation.

“Ah, yes. It’s quite alright. You’ve come to the right place. I happen to have some free time today, so a consultation shouldn’t be a problem.”

Relief washed over the mother’s face at Teo’s kind acceptance.

And after a moment, she began to tell the story of her daughter.

“My husband started a dyeing business in Greenock, Scotland. And he was quite successful.”