date

1819 Aug. 26 Fallacies 1 Ch
1819 Aug. 26

Fallacies 1

Ch | | Logical Highflier

1

| | King can do no wrong

' | | The King can do no wrong.

This aphorism has three meanings: one absurd another salutory /useful/, though but a make-shift, the other, unavoidable and thus necessary.

The absurd one is - Whatever the King does is right, because he does it. Quality declared by it to be possessed by him, impeccability.

The salutory one, though strictly speaking not including in it but an inference drawn from it, the King can not as such do any act, without the concurrence of some person /official/ his own nomination, who is case of its being by the competent authority pronounced wrong may eventually be punished for it. Plain and proper expression - For whatsoever act the King as such performs, some other official person appointed by him is in a penal sense, responsible.

The unavoidable and necessary one is - let that which the King does be ever so wrong, he can not legally be punished for it, or in any other way be made to suffer for it. Another meaning not included in the phrase but onluy inferred /deduced/ from it and added to the first mentioned meaning - the original and absurd one. Plain and proper, expression - for no act which the King has performed /done/ is he /can he be/ in a penal sense be responsible. Quality declared by it to be possessed /appertain/ by him, impunity.

In this case instead of being condensed into the compass of a sinlge word the cloudy /nebulous/ matter if diffused through a whole page. But in regard to the demand for exposure this variation makes no difference.
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    Fiction

    Such as has been the mischieviousness /mischievous effects/ of fictions in other and less extensive instances /cases/, such has it been in this all-comprehensive one. What in the shape of a lawyer the instrument of despotism has declared the Monarch to be, in the shape of a Courtier he has professed to believe him to be in right earnest - impeccable a model of perfect virtue. Such, with the addition of beauty was Elizabeth on all occasions declared to be by all her Courtiers - Such every man who ever bears a crown[?] is by Blackstone declared to be: and this so seriously that on the position that he is so arguments are grounded and practical inferences deduced from it. And that, to the character of demi God not to say God upon earth worthy as such to be glorified, and by "prostration of understanding and will" worshipped nothing may be wanting, every King is by the Church of England Liturgy and the Act of Parliament in which it is contained every King, though he were a professed Atheist, declared and constituted most religious.

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    want

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    [...?] by advice

    In this fictitious tissue /tissue of fiction/ is wrapt up another proposition /position/ /notion/ by which whatsoever be the security purchased by it, the payment made is rather of the dearest. Nothing does the Monarch as such ever do but by the advice of others. Not by his own understanding but by the understanding of some one else is his will ever directed. A consequence is - here comes another question With reference to the functions in question Where is the fitness where the appropriate aptitude of a man, who if he has an understanding of his own is not permitted - dares[?] not so much as pretend to trust to it. Such is either his present character or his situation The man on whose will the fate of so many millions of his fellow creatures is continually depending is not only declared but self confessed to be if not in a state of idiotcy, at best in a state of perpetual childhood. Can there be any need of this? can there be any use in it? No: not in any constitution grounded in rational principles. /government actually constituted, and constituted by the light of experience./ But under an imaginary constitution which not being established at any time or place is not to be seen any where, but is /has been/ made up by shreds of fictions a piece of falshood with form or consistency made up of fictions, this confession humiliating as it is must be submitted to.

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