date

1823 Feb. 19 Greece Beginning
1823 Feb. 19

Greece

Beginning

Such is the state of things the simplest in its conception which to human conception will be found more simple than any other: let enquiry be made whether it is not the most eligible © the most highly conducive etc.

In no political state has it ever been found © in no political state does it seem likely that it should ever be found © that the things and services of persons requisite for the abovementioned purposes could by possibility be found /obtained/ at all times in sufficient abundance at the hands of persons parting from them without experiencing any sensation of reluctance. But in so far as the operation of affording supplies /the matter of it expence/ in this or any other shape has reluctance for its accompaniment, all expence is evil: in all political states as yet in existence this evil has been very considerable: and in most political states hitherto in existence it has been and continues to be so considerable as to be every but intolerable.

Correspondent to the three branches or species of power above brought to view are so many departments: say the constitutive, the legislative, the executive departments.

To each department the degree in which accomplishment is given to the abovementioned all©embracing and only justifiable end of government the greatest happiness of the greatest number will be as the relative or appropriate aptitude of the several functionaries employed in such department /it/

Now there may be brought to view two immediately subordinate and consequently minor ends of government included in the abovementioned all©embracing end: Aptitude maximized; expence minimized. In /Into the compass/ these four words for shortness /memory/ sake may be condensed the designation of these two immediately subordinate and practically consecutive ends or fit objects of pursuit on the occasion of all political arrangements.
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  • Title: [1823 Feb. 19 Greece Beginning]
    Description: 1823 Feb. 19

    Greece

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    Here then /Thus/ we have already a chain of political subordination consisting of three links. Link the first or basis of the whole the universal /all©embracing/ Constitutive power: subordinate to none. 2. link the second the legislative or supreme legislative power: subordinate to the constitutive power and to that alone: 3. Link the third the supreme Executive power: subordinate to the legislative or supreme legislative power, and thence to the supreme Operative power, but not to any other: subordinate to the legislative to the end that it [...?] thus may be so to the all©embracing constitutive power, and not for any other purpose for the sake of any other end.

    Of this chain up to what precise number the total assemblage /succession/ of links may require to be extended can not for any state much less for all /every/ political states for the political state here in question be determined for ever /all times[?]/ by any general rule. But whatsoever be the length of it relation being constantly had to the greatest happiness of the greatest number rules relative to /for the direction of/ the structure of the several links will be found not incapable of being grounded on a sufficiently clear /satisfactory/ foundation

    To form a ground and foundation for these rules one indisputable matter of fact must in the first place be brought to view. This is that be the political state in question what it may, a quantity of things to be applied to the purpose of national defence in its several branches as above will of necessity require to be provided, and the stock of them kept up. 2. also things of other sorts for the subsistence of any functionaries whose whole time is allotted to the purpose at any rate if there be not in sufficient number any set of persons who having in their own property the means of subsistence can all of them together be induced to allot to that same purpose a sufficient quantity of time at the hands of a sufficient number of functionaries /persons/. Of Things at large and means of subsistence in particular in so far as thus employed is composed the necessary ”expence• of government.
  • Title: [1823 Feb. 19 Greece Beginning]
    Description: 1823 Feb. 19

    Greece

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    Aptitude © appropriate aptitude is a term of relation /reference/: of the object /objects/ to which on this occasion it is intended to bear reference abundant mention has already been made the greatest happiness of the greatest number, and as a means conducive /subservient/ /with reference/ to that end, [...?] /closeness/ of dependence on the part of the possessors of each subordinate portion of authority to the will of the possessors of that supreme authority to which all others are subordinate.

    In /Of/ appropriate aptitude as thus defined, three immediate branches all distinguishable from one another will be found observable: appropriate moral aptitude, appropriate intellectual aptitude, and appropriate active aptitude

    By appropriate moral aptitude in so far as perfect understand on the part of the functionary in question the disposition and thus the desire and endeavour to contribute on every occasion in the exercise of his function to the utmost of his power to the attainment of the so often mentioned all embracing and only proper end.

    As to the motives or say the inducements by which this desire and endeavour have been produced or say secured, the degree of desire and endeavour being given, they are in themselves as [...?] /immaterial/ with reference to the end as in most instances they are difficult to discover ascertain and demonstrate.

    In the breasts /On the part/ of the majority of the delegates in a representative government constituted upon the abovementioned principles this /appropriate/ moral aptitude will generally speaking be in a sufficient degree possessed: between the personal interest of the functionary and his share in the universal interest such is the connection as to render the existence of this quality in a sufficient degree probable

    On the part of the ruling functionaries in a pure Monarchy, in a pure Aristocracy © or in any government in which there is a mixture either of Monarchy or of Aristocracy, it is impossible. It is [...?] with that constantly [...?] self preference, on the which the whole species depends for its existence.
  • Title: [1823 Feb. 21 Greece Beginning Inserendum]
    Description: 1823 Feb. 21 Greece Beginning Inserendum

    To an objection to this effect /of this sort/ it must be confessed, admitts but

    of one answer. The will, to which if the greatest happiness of the greatest

    number is the result of it, effect will have been given by the arrangements

    taken in pursuit of that end will be © not that which at the commencement of the

    change while minds are as yet in their debased state of debasement would be

    their will © but that which it may be presumed will be their will, by the time

    that a rational regard for the only proper end of government together with a

    right understanding /conception/ of the means most contributory to that end have

    been attained by them. Happily as to what will be their wills, when once there

    has been time for the conveying to /impressing on/ their minds this salutary

    conception and the impression has been made accordingly there can not be any

    reasonable particle of doubt. Official Aptitude maximized, public expence

    minimized © when once proposed to the who [...?] can refuse to recognize in

    these two short phrases the designation of the two minor ends immediately

    subordinate to and included in that one /same/ universal end? Among the most

    ignorant and prejudiced of men who is there that does not on every occasion

    obtain whatever it is that he wants, at /for/ the smallest price at which he

    finds it in his power to obtain it. What man therefore so ignorant or so

    prejudice as not to recognize the advantage of obtaining at the like low prices

    all such services as he stands in need of at the hands of his rulers?