date

[Sheet attached to xxxvi. 101] Thoughts
[Sheet attached to xxxvi. 101]

Thoughts on Economy as applied to Office - or Constitut Code.

14 Apr. 1822

Preference in favour of the powerful and rich - the Causes.

Virtue as height in the scales of power and opulence directly. Cause of this error

1. Power of do as instruments of corruption. They procure false evidence in [...?] affirmation of excellence. Patrons obtain groundless laud of Clients

2. Power of do as instruments of fascination

3. De mortuis nil nisi bonum: its influence on biography: biography is eulogium: the biographized belong to the ruling few: bonum mortuis is bonum vivis [...?]

4. By small expence in proportion to income the rich obtain great laud for beneficence: by encrease of maleficence on a large scale they obtain reputation of benevolence

5. Rich sole customers of artists: hence artists slaves and panegyrists of the rich

6. Notice that in political discussion it is injurious to impute bad motives: ie to predicate self-preference. Yes: to impute these exclusively to A. or B: not if there were no ill-grounded laud[?]. Not injurious if imputed to them in common with all public men: nor, while the habit of ascribing special excellence to A and B. continues.
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