date

1822 Decr 16 Tripoli. Securities against
1822 Decr 16 Tripoli. Securities against Misrule 7o Preliminary Explanation

?.2. Remedy - Publicity Publ. Opin. Tribunal ? Unofficial where inferior its

disadvantages

Intestine plagues /depredators/ of this class being essential /innate/

accompaniments /inmates/ of the constitution of every political community. They

exist, nor can they ever cease to exist in a representative democracy even

though constituted in the purest form possible: in that form they may be kept

under in such sort as not to [...?] to be productive of any considerable

mischief: but they can not consistently with the security of the whole ever be

altogether extirpated. Thus stands the matter in the only sort of government

which has for its object the greatest happiness of the greatest number: for as

to all others they have for their object the greatest happiness of the smaller

number, at the expence of that of the greater.

In a Monarchy at the head of the essentially /highest/ predatory class is

stationed the arch-depredator - the Monarch: a creature /parasite/ in whose

devouring and consuming maw /one maw/ for the small chance of giving encrease to

the felicity of that one being the sustenance of thousands and ten thousands of

others whose claims are as good as his is consumed

The analogy between this original /innate/ disease of the body politic and one

of the diseases which in the body natural though frequent is but casual can not

have escaped the observing eye: in the class of malefactors so called and

treated as such may be seen the ascarides /[...?]/ by which the lowest parts of

the intestinal canal are occupied and infested: in the higher parts in the

aristocrats may be seen the teretes, the smooth and polished sort as the name

imports: in the Monarch, the solitary worm in French le ver solitaire, no

constitution being equal to the endurance of more than one, the extraction of

which is at once so difficult, so perilous, and yet so necessary. An emblem is

not a proof; accordingly neither is it here meant for such. But if furnished by

the nature of the case and happily chosen, it will contribute clearness and

strength to the conception, and for this purpose alone is it here /on this

occasion/ brought to view.
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  • Title: [1822 Decr. 16 Tripoli. Securities against]
    Description: 1822 Decr. 16 Tripoli. Securities against Misrule. 7o Preliminary

    Explanations ?.2 Remedy - Publicity Publ. Opin. Tribunal ? Unofficial where

    inferior

    Thus much as to the points in which this unofficial Judicatory has the advantage

    over /is superior to/ the Official Judicatories. Now as to those in which it

    lies under a disadvantage.

    1. In the first place, taken in its totality, it labours under a division - a

    constant and universally obtaining /established/ division in respect of

    interests: two parties, constituting so many sections - the democratical and the

    aristocratical, are destined in all communities and at all times to have place

    in it. The interest of the few the extra opulent and thereby, even if by no

    other means, the powerful few being in a state of constant opposition to that of

    the many - that of the consuming class which produces nothing to that of the

    producing class which produces more than it consumes - hence it is that whatever

    power is in the hands of the aristocratical class over and above that which is

    in the hands of the same number of those of the democratical class constitutes a

    sort of disease, with which the body politic taken in its totality is afflicted.

    Consult [...?] on Medicine for the nomenclature

    By the original structure of its constitution this body is destined to labour

    under two distinguishable diseases, having for their cause or causes, the inward

    existence of two intestine sets of enemies: one set composed of the ultra

    indigent class of malefactors, who being as such weak and powerless and objects

    of general disgust, are thereby punishable exposed to punishment: the other

    composed of the ultra opulent who being as such powerful and objects of general

    respect, are /stand/ thereby exempted and preserved from punishment. Of both of

    the depredation is the characteristic occupation: by the ultra indigent it is

    /acts/ ever acted upon a small scale, by the ultra opulent upon the largest

    scale.
  • Title: [Editorial marks in red ink by J. Mill?]
    Description: Editorial marks in red ink by J. Mill?

    2 Jan 1809

    Evid. Prosp. View

    B II Theoretic

    Ch. Foundation

    Innate Propensity

    (1)

    Innate propensity to sin: therefore sinning is reasonable

    Not to be inserted

    The mode of reasoning employed by these partizans (if the application of the word reason or any of its conjugates may be on this occasion be be endured is truly curious.

    When the supposed fact is of the number of those which are seen by every body to be happening every day, reasons for regarding the report as false are admitted by them without difficulty. But when the supposed fact is of the number of those which are never seen to happen—which no human being that lives will so much as pretend to have seen happen, then it is that all objections to the report are to stand back all reasons for regarding the report as false are to be turned aside from with abhorrence. Then it is that this all proving argument is to be brought forward—there exists in man an innate propensity to believe whatever he hears reported as true, therefore the supposed facts supposed on this occasions to have been reported, these facts, be they ever so improbable, are to be received as true.

    In a word where a fact is probable it may be disbelieved but if to a certain degree it be improbable, this is the sort of fact that must be believed.

    The innate propensity to believe all things, is not brought forward to obtain evidence for probable facts: no: facts must to a certain degree be improbable, to entitle themselves to the benefit of it.

    So long as any observations can be found, that present a chance of causing the facts in dispute to be received into the class of probable ones, the arguments are made the most of—the probability of the facts is maintained—and every circumstance by which the probability is regarded as diminished, is either anxiously stripped off or candidly given up. No assistance is then sought from the innate propensity to believe all things. But when the improbability [is]determined to be too flagrant to be denied, then it is that the innate propensity is called in to do its office, and the [...?] are openly avowed, that where you have not the reporter to cross-examine the improbability of his report can afford us sufficient reason for disblieving it.
  • Title: [1822 Decr 17. Tripoli. Securities]
    Description: 1822 Decr 17.

    Tripoli. Securities against Misrule.

    7o

    Preliminary Explanations

    ?.2. Remedy Publicity

    Publ.

    III. Power

    Unofficial where inferior

    In a mixt Monarchy, the existence of disagreement between the constituent /component/ parts of it is of the very essence of the speices. True it is that another property belonging to the essence of the species is the having a bond of union or sinister interest in which they share a sinister interest acting in constant opposition to the interest and greatest happiness of the people of the greatest number: and by this unity of interest the government may for a length of time more or less considerable be kept from dissolution.

    Not less true is it that in a government of this form /species/ not less constantly a cause /causes/ of disagreement has /have/ place

    If between the power of the Monarch and whatsoever other power there is by which his is kept in check the limits are not sufficiently defined, thereupon comes contention between the one power and the other.

    So if between two powers subordinate to that of the Monarch if so it be that the Monarch takes a part on the one side or the other which is what can scarcely fail to have place /happen/.

    By a certain degree of prudence disagreement from any one of the above three causes may be kept from breaking out.

    One source /cause/ however there remains which is of the essence of the species, and which can not by any human prudence be at any time altogether excluded /compleatly shut out/. This is the competition for power as between party and party in the class of statesmen

    The matter of good in the shape of the matter of corruption is suppose even the whole of it in the hands of the Sovereign /Monarch/ or at his disposal. Still be it ever so vast, and be his desire of satisfying every body ever so ardent, to give satisfaction to that desire is at all times plainly impossible. So far from decreasing as the quantity at his disposal and accordingly disposed of encreases, the aggregate amount of the appetite encreases in that same ratio: the more /of it/ there is to be had of it, the greater is the number of those each of whom beholds for himself a probability of obtaining a share of it.