125_170.xml

Title: [[Marginal summary sheet[?]] [Mainly]

Description: [Marginal summary sheet[?]]

[Mainly in copyist’s hand]

14 Jan y 1817

Necessity Cat

1 Theory

§ 4. Probity how securable

1

1

§ 4. Probity how securable?

Q 1 - Recapitulation - < > question - By what arrangements < > of the form of government can appropriate probity on the part of the supreme rulers be most effectually secured -

A. Short answer: such by means of which each such ruler shall find it his interest to entertain the destrosetion[?] in question, and constantly to act up to it -

2

Q 2: i e. that in the current phrases it shou’d be his interest should in each coincide with his duty -

A - Yes -

3

Q.3. But under every form of government are the instances of every possessor of supreme power does not interest coincide with duty? - i.e the line of conduct presented by interest coincide with d o. prescribed by duty? Exists there that office bearer who possesses not a share in the universal interest? as great a share as any other can possess? -

A. No. But in addition to that fractional interest every member of the community rulers included has an integral interest, viz. a purely personal interest which being distinct from his share in the universal interest is liable to be opposite to it

A - Yes -

§. 4 Probity how securable

4

Q 4 - This 1 undurable it therefore is that he should never deviate, will any such sinister cource. But then he will not deviate, unless and in so far as his such his private compared with public interest is the strongest: will he? -

A. No - but mostly so it will be. The seperate interest is an integer: his share in the universal interest is but a < > fraction, as one to a number of millions. This sinister interest of his acts in the most < > his public in a highly diluted state

{5}

Ans. In this respect, with no other difference than what depends on the number of the portions, this public is on the footing of a private partnership. Bating the tutelary force of the interest < > political or legal, the /by the/ popular or moral, and the religious sanctions, if by a conduct by which the value of his share as the partnership would be diminished one hundred pound a partner can gain two hundred so he will do -

5

Q 5 - You mean that conduct will be determined by the stronger interest viz - when thereby general happiness will not only not be encreased but diminished.

A. Yes - that in the < > of the powers of government < > to be the supposition acted upon say, as there may be so each had several interests by the stronger body of interest -

7

Q 7 - Teach you then that for example on every occasion in which by sacrificing one pound, a man may gain two he will make the sacrifice?

A - Not exactly so: only for the sale if the explanation said so: if these were really so, no imprudence; nothing but consummate prudence.

What I meant was -

I. On each occasion man’s conduct is determined by what in his own conception of the matter is at the < > most conducive to the aggregate interest corresponding to the < > quantity of happiness expected to be enjoyed by him during life:

2. that for the purpose in question that conception ought to be taken for correct

8

Q. 8. What always notwithstanding the known abundances of of imprudences? -

A. Yes - individuals persons not known nothing known but the general comprehension of names nature[?], and the particular situation of the sort it man in question, such the supposition on what we are induced to act This ground is not a fallacious as it may be seen. Per Adam < >. Bankruptcies are comparatively rare: and of Bankruptcies only a part are produced either by improbity or imprudence. - By the very notice taken of imprudences their rarity is evidenced: only by what is rare is nature attracted.

JB_111_045.xml

Title: [nd [wm 1813] Government 1 Monarchy]

Description: nd [wm 1813]

Government 1 Monarchy

Monarch

§1. Private interest

§2. Share in public d o

5

5

We come now to speak of the Monarchs share in the universal interest In his quality of Member of the community at large it is his interest that y e aggregate mass of the matter of felicity possessed and enjoyed by the whole community be as great as possible. This then were his private interest out of the question would be upon the whole his interest. For such in the case of every Member in the community is upon y e whole his interests supposing him to have no such private interest as, being adverse to the universal interest is of more value to him than his share in the Universal interest. But the value of the monarch’s private interest, such is the magnitude of the mass of the matter of felicity always heaped upon that one head, is in a vast degree superior to the value of his share in the universal interest: which being the case, so long as he adds any but the smallest part to the magnitude of that mass of which he has the whole it matters not to him in how large a degree he diminishes the magnitude of that in which he has but a proportionable share.

For the carrying on y e business of government in all its branches

125_338.xml

Title: [14 Jan y 1817 Necessity Cat]

Description: 14 Jan y 1817

Necessity Cat

1 Theory

§.4. Probity how securable

15

Q. 17. Well then: it seems to me that I can not but admitt that taking the word duty in the sense agreed on - no form of government is so good as it ought to be and might be in which any arrangement is omitted that promises to secure the coincidence between personal interest and duty. But now /still/ comes the grand question by what means can this coincidence most surely be effected?

A. This /One thing/ you will find no difficulty in admitting: viz. that if on the other side they have /it has/ nothing to oppose them /it/, his share in the universal interest will in so far as the conception entertained by him in relation to it is correct be on each occasion sufficient to secure the direction his conduct in that line which leads to the advancement of that universal interest: for producing this desirable /the effect desired/ this force, how small so ever it be will so long as it finds not on the other side any thing stronger, much /still/ more surely if it finds not on the other side any force at all to oppose it, be sufficient. But so long as it acts in this direction, be the government what it may, in so far as depends upon disposition, i.e. will, which is all that is at present in question, it has for its support by the supposition, the force of social sympathy in the shape of public spirit or say in the shape of patriotism: and, saving casual and comparatively rare exceptions, it may further count /reckon/ upon having for the further support that of the two military sanctions the moral or popular, or moral, and the religious sanction abovementioned: acting in the course /direction/ prescribed to him, as far as appears to him, by a regard for his own share in the universal interest, and thereby and therewith by his sympathy for that same universal interest, he will be acting in the direction prescribed to him by the value he sets on the action and goodwill of the public as towards him and by the /whatsoever/ eventual hope it may happen to him to entertain of the favour or fear of the displeasure of the Almighty.