6 June 1804

Evidence

Ch. Basis

On this same occasion, the obligation on each party to act the first /to take the ground/ above assigned to turn, will be constituted by obvious and efficient motives /considerations/: on the plff, by the fear of having subjected himself without return to the vexation and perhaps expence attendant upon this forced meeting, aggravated with /enhanced by/ the expence of the satisfaction necessary to indemnify the defendant for his share of the vexation and expence: in the defendant, by the fear of the like burthen, in addition to that of the obligation corresponding to the service so demanded at his hands.

These matters being urged on both sides, shall the decision be pronounced by the Judge on the spot, or shall it be reserved for ulterior hearings one or more? - Yes or no: according as the cause is or is not ripe for it. What the circumstances are on which its maturity will depend /by which its maturity is capable of being influenced/, will be seen in another chapter.

Meantime thus much may be mentioned already, as one of the practical advantages that would result from the restoration of the original, natural, and only honest and /or/ rational system /plan/ of procedure: the extirpation of that species of licensed /sanctioned/ depredation which in English law goes by the name of Special Pleading: the artificial protraction of the debate by means of written instruments, composed of allegation without evidence, mutually delivered by the professional agents of the parties, at distant intervals, without the cognizance as well as [...?] of the presence of the Judge. But of this also in another place.
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  • Title: [5 July 1804 Procedure & Evidence]
    Description: 5 July 1804

    Procedure & Evidence

    Evils

    2d order

    7 or 1. vexation 2. to defendant

     Vexation to the defendant

    I Natural causes

    1 to 7 The same as in a case of vexation to the demandant

    8. Arrangements necessary to be taken for the securing the justiciability of the defendant himself for example imprisonment for safe custody, obligation to find security, whether by ----ation of property, or by fide jussors[?] - friends wantonly[?] pledging their property for the performance of the engagement.

    II Factitious causes, negative, and positive

    The same as in the case of vexation to demandant.

    Intricacy

    In a current parallel to that of expence, vexation in other shapes. For - not to dwell on labour and loss of time - to what degree must not the pressure upon the mind of the traveller be enhanced, by the observation of the darkness in which the whole league of the road /in its whole length/ with the issue at the end of it, and his fate which hangs upon it /that issue/ is involved?

    This darkness will not fail to appear more and more gloomy, and his confidence in the result, weaker /fainter/ and weaker /more and more tottering/ /less and less steady/, the more intimate his acquaintance with this track, the more correct his view of it.
  • Title: [4 June 1804 Procedure. Evidence]
    Description: 4 June 1804

    Procedure. Evidence

    CH. Basus

    II. Purposes for which it may be of advantage to the defendant that the plaintiff should thus make his appearance.

    1. That the Defendant may cause the Plaintiff to exhibit his confessional[?] testimony, on being examined, as above: that he (the Plff) may acknowledge such facts, if any, as may tend to repel his claim, they being such as the defendant might not otherwise have it in his power to discover - or if at all not without superior vexation expence and delay.

    2. That he the defendant may cause /have the opportunity of causing/ the Plff to indicate and discover, and produce or bind himself to the producing any such other sources of evidence personal, real or written, as being in his custody or power, or lying within his knowledge or [sup...?] may tend to reject the claims of him the plaintiff, or constitute or substantiate any counterclaim of the defendant.

    3. That he the defendant, on sight /on case of the production/ of any real or written evidence making against himself and produced accordingly by the plaintiff (suppose a memorandum or letter in a hand writing being or appearing to be that of the defendant but /having/[...?]/ per tanto though distinctly[?] in the character of confessorial evidence, may by the suggestion of ulterior facts or observations, have the opportunity of removing the delusion, and placing that part of the evidence in its true light.

    4. That he the Defendant may have the opportunity of causing the plaintiff to authenticate by his confession all such sources of real or written evidence of an[?] instance[?] to operate in favour of him the defendant, as being in the custody /power, knowledge or [...?]/, of either party may on this same occasion have been brought to view[?] or to remembrance for this purpose.
  • Title: [9 April 1804 Evidence Forthcomingness]
    Description: 9 April 1804

    Evidence

    Forthcomingness

    Ch.6. Appearance

    §.4. Subsequent Appearance

    The consequences of such folly or such wickedness, were it supposable, would according to the nature of the cause, and according to the side of the cause prejudiced by such deperition /the wound thus given to justice/, assume that diversity and opposition of character /complexion/ that has so often been exemplified /brought to view/. In causes purely penal and mixt, the evidence suppressed being evidence requisite for the proof /demonotration//conviction/ of delinquency, evidence sought for/ wanted/ on the part of the plaintiff, the consequence would be impurity - the triumph of guilt in causes of /belonging to/ the same character /classes/, the evidence suppressed being evidence requisite for aquittal evidence sought for on the part of the defendant, the consequence would be conviction, and punishment of the innocent: in causes purely non-penal, the evidence suppressed being evidence wanted on the part of the plaintiff, the consequence would be non [...?] of right /wrongful/ refusal of the service due/; or if wanted on the part of the defendant, wrongful imposition of an undue obligation - an injustice which to the amount of the weight of the burthen would be tantamount /equivalent/ to so much unjust punishment: in causes of a mixed nature /kind/, in which, the offence being of a nature to wound the public through the sides[?] of a particular individual, the demand for satisfaction in cases of delinquency is combined with the demand for punishment, the consequence of the suppression if, as above, to the prejudice of the plaintiff's side would be, to add to the refusal of the punishment in /on/ the administration of which the interest of the public is concerned /at stake/, the refusal of the satisfaction by which alone the injury to the individual can be made to erase; yet to the prejudice of the defendants, undue punishment aggravated by the burthen some obligation of defraying the expence of satisfaction for imaginary wrong.