THE END OF LAISSEZ-FAIRE

the economists lent itself to the laissez-faireinterpretation. But the popularity of thedoctrine must be laid at the door of thepolitical philosophers of the day, whom ithappened to suit, rather than of the politicaleconomists.

The maxim laissez-nous faire is traditionallyattributed to the merchant Legendre address-ing Colbert sometime towards the end of theseventeenth century. 1 But there is no doubtthat the first writer to use the phrase, and touse it in clear association with the doctrine, isthe Marquis d’Argenson about 1751. 2 TheMarquis was the first man to wax passionateon the economic advantages of Governments

1 “ Que faut-il faire pour vous aider ? ” asked Colbert.“ Nous laisser faire,” answered Legendre.

2 For the history of the phrase, vide Oncken, “ DieMaxime Laissez-faire et laissez passer,” from whom mostof the following quotations are taken. The claims ofthe Marquis d’Argenson were overlooked until Onckenput them forward, partly because the relevant passagespublished during his lifetime were anonymous (JournalCEconomique, 1751), and partly because his works were notpublished in full (though probably passed privately fromhand to hand during his lifetime) until 1858 (Mhnoireset Journal inedit du Marquis d'Argenson).

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