date

1821 Nov. 11 or 12 Codification Offer '.8
1821 Nov. 11 or 12 Codification Offer '.8. Foreigner best '.2. II.

Intellectual aptitude 2. Knowledge

2. Under the head of appropriate intellectual aptitude, remains to be considered

appropriate knowledge.

In relation to this element of appropriate aptitude the native in the ordinary

state of things possesses an advantage alike obvious and unquestionable. On his

part, extent of acquaintance with the local and other particular circumstances

of the country in question is at its maximum; on the part of the foreigner, at

its minimum.

Supposing appropriate aptitude in all its other elements exactly equal on both

sides, the advantage of the native under this head would obviously and

unquestionably be sufficient to turn the scale in his favour and put an

exclusion upon the foreigner altogether.

But, for the reason already brought to view, it will have been seen whether,

individuals out of the question, and situation being compared with situation, in

the several articles of appropriate moral aptitude, and appropriate judgment the

superiority be not, and in no inconsiderable degree on the side of the foreigner

From his inferiority in the scale of appropriate knowledge, as above

particularized, no objection whatever to the placing the business in his hands

will be found to result: 1. The importance of the deficiency in his case is not

so great as it will be apt to appear 2 be it what it may, a compleat supply to

it stands assured: assured, from the authority to which his draught will of

course be referred.
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    Description: 1821 Nov. 11 Codification Offer '.8. Foreigner best '.2. II. Intellectual

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    II. Next as to appropriate intellectual aptitude. On the present occasion this

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    1. In regard to appropriate judgment, on the occasion of the question as between

    a single hand and divers hands, mention came to be made of the erroneous tracks

    into which the pen of every such Draughtsman stands exposed to be led by

    prejudice in different shapes: thence probability of correspondent aberration on

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    strength at least if not in kind to the country in question. From the influence

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  • Title: [1821. June 17. Codification Offer]
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    '.3. II. Intellectual aptitude 2. Knowledge

    '.7/8/. Aptitude in all other respects equal, the hand of the draughtsman should be that of a foreigner rather than of a native.

    Appropriate intellectual aptitude, appropriate active talent, appropriate moral aptitude - as in the case of any other political function, so in the case of this one in particular once more, under one or other of these denominations will every branch and every point of appropriate aptitude be found comprisable.

    1. As to intellectual aptitude: under which head let appropriate knowledge, or, as the official phrase is, information, in addition to sound judgment, be comprehended. In the present case more particularly, it is this one of the three branches of appropriate aptitude that, to many an eye, will present a preferable claim to precedence: for how great soever may be the mischief produced by the utmost conceivable degree of moral aptitude, still it could not but be exceeded by that which might be the result of the utmost conceivable degree of conceivable intellectual aptitude, supposing the suggestions by presented /pursued/. But, in such a situation as that in question, the existence of the highest conceivable degree of intellectual magnitude is not in any the smallest degree probable:- whereas, in that same situation, the existence of the highest degree of moral inaptitude is, in every instance, but too probable.

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    I. The deficiency not so great as it will be apt to appear. Of the circumstances on which the demand for legislation, and the nature of the course required to be taken by legislation depends, some are common to all countries, to all races of men, and all times: say, in a word universally applying: others are, in different countries, in the case of different races of men, and in different times more or less different: say exclusively applying.

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