date

23 Aug 1812 Evidence Introd
23 Aug 1812

Evidence Introd

Introd

Ch. 15 Preappointed Official

'. Obstacles

False musters

In the maintenance of official lying both these functionaries have therefore a common interest: the exertions of each are accordingly engaged in covering, and with a rule of honour, not only his own corruption, but the corruption of all the rest.

At one stroke of the pen a sanction is given to depredation and falshood in high places: to depredation the end, to falsehood the well-assorted means; means condusive to that end and to every other convenient and dishonest end that can be mentioned. it is that recommends it (for to any man breathing what else is there that can recommend it?) it is this that recommends it so forcibly, to Honourable Gentlemen, and above all to Noble Lord, and above all to Noble and Learned Lords.
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  • Title: [23 Aug. 1812 Evidence Introd]
    Description: 23 Aug. 1812

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    '. Rule of verity - its importance and odiousness

    On the subject of official recordation one rule, thich by the aspect of a nugatory one and which not being nugatory involves in /that/ it matter of fact which to every mind not rendered callous by habitual vice /the habit of/ vitious habit/ will present itself as pregnant with the severest satire, as these following viz.

    On no account in any official Book suffer any statement in relation to any matter of fact whatsoever suffer any statement to be made which at the to be introduced or if introduced to remain any the least particle of known falshood

    Saving the narrowly extending and rarely exemplified case where to avoid serving the purpose of hostility by correct representation, silence or temporary misrepresentation may be neccesary, ther exists not that instance in which substitution of falshood to truth can be condusive to any useful purpose; nor of improbity or imbecility on the part of any man can there be more conclusive proof than the disposition to advocate either the creation or the peservation and continuance of a system of false entries in every book of office.

    Though against official falsehood is comprizeable in as few words as the commandment of Mosaical law /[...?]/ Moses's law/ against stealing: Say, thou shalt not lie, and among those whom we were are expected to conform to as patterns, as well are forced to obey as rulers, in Westminster Hall and Sommerset Place, will be practised with about as much practical effect, as would the commandment against a Sermon on the text of Render to Caesar the things that are caesars of [...?] in [...?] lower on the sea coast, as the commandment is against stealing, if preached upon Dyot Street or Field Lane,
  • Title: [23 Aug 1812 Evidence Introd]
    Description: 23 Aug 1812

    Evidence Introd

    Introd

    Ch. 15 Preappointed Office

    '. Obstacles.

    Except as above excepted, no one good purpose ever has been or ever can be [...?] /effected/ by officially recorded falshood, considered as preferred and substituted to truth as employed instead of truth in performance in no one instance has it ever been employed without being to an incalculable amount productive of band effects.
  • Title: [23. Aug. 1812 Evidence Introd]
    Description: 23. Aug. 1812

    Evidence Introd

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    Ch. 15 Preappointed Offices

    '. Obstacles

    False Muster

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    '. Swindling how sanctioned in military officers by lawyer-led legislators - False musters

    Among military men it continues still a point of honour if not to abstain from lying, at any rate not to endure the imputation of it. To the man of law, not speak of the priest it was no small object, to corrupt the morals of the military man and plant in his mind if possible the love of falshood, at any rate an indifference to truth.

    In the military profession [...?] of the point of honour, a practice and craft of applying falshood in the character of an instrument for the extraction of sinister profit. Money was received on false pretences the pretence was the existence of a certain number of men in a body of troops in which no such men were to be found. False musters were the denomination by which depredation in this shape had come to be designated

    In the purpose of a cloak as usual, some of the money thus diverted had been applied to a public purpose. The purpose having been found useful, advantage was taken of this circumstance by the lovers of fraud, and instead of employing honest means they lent the sanction of government to these dishonest ones: as if government had no better means of getting money than by encouraging one set of its servants to turn swindlers tell lies, and in this way pilfer it from another. from their public servants in another office by setting one part of its servants to steal it from another.

    A sanction was accordingly given to it, by the hand of the legislator? in what form? considering by what sort of hands the legislator is in this country habitually and unavoidably led, the form may be imagined.

    The sanction was applied - not to the form /purpose/ only but to the instrument. the fraud itself was legalised.

    Extracts from [...?] Index to the Statutes, with Soldiers

    44. Penalties on persons making false certificates to excuse from Musters

    IV G.3.C.3. '.10.

    45. And [...?] Offices making false musters, IV G.3.C.3. '.11, 21.

    48. Fictitious names where allowed in a muster, G.3.c.3 C.3. '.12 This was the Mutiny Act of the year in which this Index was printed Mutiny Act and Index.