JB_003_261.xml

Title: [17 Decr 1801 Maximum Long introduced]

Description: 17 Decr 1801

Maximum

Long introduced[?]

1

In regard to this question I had remained in that state of self-conscious and

quiet ignorance, in which I have never found any difficulty in remaining in

regard to any question in which I had no particular motive for bestowing a

thorough examination suspended between what seemed to me to be a plain and primâ

facie conclusive argument on one side and the force of authority – the opinions

of the most esteemed authors /writers/, and of individuals whose opinions stood

the highest in my own estimation, on the other, when happening to take up /on

opening without any particular view/ a pamphlet which I had heard ascribed to a

late Secretary of the Treasury on the other, and to open it at a part /the

place/ where the topic of a maximum is touched upon, and the /a number of/

arguments against the measure /on the other side/ held up to view, I was struck

at the same time with the number and variety of them, and with their /the/

inconclusiveness of them /the whole collection/ for such it appeared to me on

the other. And is this all then said I, that there is to say against the

measure? – if so, then as I have all along suspected, the horror in which it has

been held by the best opinions has nothing but prejudice, and {an} /a too

indiscriminate/ attachment to general principles for its foundation /cause/: so

that the leaning which with or without sufficient cause I have now some reason

to entertain in favour of the measure has been confirmed if not altogether

produced by the arguments which in the eyes of the Hon. Gentleman formed a

sufficient ground for reprobating it

Looking upon the observations presented /delivered/ /made/ by the Hon. Gentleman

on that head as containing /constituting/ a pretty compleat index to any such

arguments as might be delivered /urged constructed/ on that side, though to any

view of the matter the arguments themselves

seemed

JB_003_241.xml

Title: [15 Decr 1801 Maximum 5]

Description: 15 Decr 1801

Maximum

5

I mention thus much – I go /travel/ with the more freedom /latitude/ in this line

of argument – that it may be seen whether any prepossession – any ill humour,

any precipitancy – adherence to formerly declared opinions has had any share in

the production of the sentiments here expressed – or rather of the arguments

here submitted. I say the arguments: for it is thus for them to speak for

themselves and to make whatever impression they are competent /qualified/ to

/may be commensurate to/ make by their intrinsic weight. As to opinion – of that

fixed and decided sort by which conduct is determined, it is matter of

self-congratulation to me that in my humble situation I am not obliged to form

one: but if I were, judging from such lights as have as yet appeared to me I am

inclined to think it would be in favour of the maximum law. As to authority if

any one should be inclined to bestow the weight of a gram upon the opinion, as

adding a particle of force to the arguments more than they would appeared to

possess had the quarter from whence they come remained unknown, he will ascribe

/set/ so much more value to /on/ it than is ascribed to /set on/ it by the

author himself by him who entertains it.

I have endeavoured /studied[?] for about these 30 or 40 years/ and I think I have

succeeded so to order my mind as to be able to stop at any point between perfect

conviction and absolute doubt, according to the opponent force of evidence in

each case, as it presents itself at the time.

JB_003_244.xml

Title: [14 Decr 1801 Maximum 1 Bread]

Description: 14 Decr 1801

Maximum

1 Bread

1

The /My/ aim in these pages being – not the gaining of a point – but the

disentanglement of useful truth on which side soever it may be to be found,

arguments that appear inconclusive must, on whatever side they present

themselves, be equally as such held up to view.

Cases of various kinds have been referred to /pointed out/, as precedents of a

maximum law: they are so of a maximum taken at large of a fixation of prices

taken at large: but they do not any of them appear to be in point or to come up

to the case when applied to the case of corn.

The nearest case upon /to/ a superficial view, is that of the assize of bread:

and to a superficial view, it is indeed a very near one: the subject matter

being the same article /individual parcel of matter/ only in different states.

But in point of principle the analogy is altogether wanting. Of The fixation

proposed for the price of the corn the effect would be to prevent it from rising

beyond /above/ a certain mark above the mark so fixed upon for that purpose. The

sort of fixation in use in regard to bread leaves the price free in effect to

rise to any heighth. What it determines is – not the absolute price of bread but

only its proportion to another price the price