JB_080_033.xml

Title: [1821 May 11 Codification Offer]

Description: 1821 May 11

Codification Offer

'10 Offer Why

Still it may be said An offer of this sort - why is it thus obtruded? Why not instead of thus hawking about your wares, wait in dignified silence, till an invitation to the effect in question is given, like a Turkish shop-keeper while on the look-out for customers.

The question seems natural enough and the answer is ready for it. In comparison of the number of the hands into which this paper may find its way, the number of those into which the abovementioned publication can expect to fall, is inconsiderable. Without positive information no such conception could, naturally speaking, and judging from ordinary experience, be entertained, as that of an individual, who competent or uncompetent, could not only be so in his own eyes but be at the same time willing, and in readiness to undertake a work of the sort in question; and, at the same time, on such terms, to the refusal /exclusion/ of all such, as according to ordinary notions would be more advantageous.

036_202V.xml

Title: [[036-202v] 1821. May 11. Codification]

Description: [036-202v]

1821. May 11.

Codification Offer

'.10 Offer /9 Draughtsman gratuitous/

'.10. Offer relative to a work of the sort above described.

Of the sort of work the demand for which, as above, has place in every nation, and in every nation remains as yet unsatisfied, a /the/ description has now been given. For the service of any nation on the globe, this demand the author of the address is ready and willing to do what depends upon him towards satisfying. Of his readiness for this service, sufficient intimation was, indeed, afforded as long ago as the year 1817, by a publication of his in English intituled "Papers relative to Codification" &c. But, though that publication forms an 8 vo. volume, it contains no more than a part of the testimonials, by which this offer is accompanied. Nor, of the topics touched upon in this address, will any (it is believed) be found there brought on the carpet, with the exception of those which regard all-comprehensiveness and the rationale.

In the publication just mentioned, the anticipated rejection of reward of a pecuniary nature, in any shape, stands announced, and, of the seriousness of the declaration, proof afforded: afforded by the mentioned return of a present from the Emperor Alexander. But, on the subject of the importance of that condition to the usefulness of the service, nothing would in that place, (it is believed) be found. This deficiency has been herein above supplied.

The shape of such reward would either be that of a benefit conferred, the whole at one time, or that of a benefit conferred in parts at different times: viz, as the phrase is, by instalments: in which latter case the simplest and most ordinary form is that of an annuity for life or years. Paid at once, it would naturally be paid, either before the commencement of the service, or not till after the conclusion of it. Paid in the whole before the commencement of the service it would render the whole of the service altogether precarious, and in this way every thing that by improvidence in the arrangement could be done towards giving to uncertainty its utmost degree, would manifestly be done. Paid no part of it till after the completion of the service, it would operate as a reward - a bounty - for precipitation: for precipitation, and thereby for imperfect and unapt performance: while, on the other hand, by the uncertainty manifestly attendant on the event of completion, the value of the reward, to a very considerable degree, and with it the probability of its finding acceptance on the part of any competent hand, would be

subjected

JB_113_106v.xml

Title: [1821. April 16 Codification Offer]

Description: 1821. April 16

Codification Offer

'7 Foreigner why

Remains, the only case, in which, consistently with moral probability, a work of

this sort could have for its author a foreigner, acting under the direction and

impulse of a particular and sinister interest. This is the case where, in the

expectation and for the sake of a remuneration in one or more of the above

mentioned three shapes, viz. money, power, and factitious dignity, he has

offered himself for the work, to this or that leading native. But, in this case,

there must exist, on the one part, in the breast of an individual, in relation

to whom in countries foreign to his own, a sufficiently strong and extensive

persuasion of his appropriate aptitude in the shape of intellectual aptitude and

active talent, has place; on the other part, a desire to earn the remuneration

whatever it may be at the price of a labour of so vast a magnitude, /unexampled

a complexion,/ at the disposition of the ruler or rulers in question, a mass of

reward, sufficient to afford an adequate remuneration, not only for the labour

employed in such a work, howsoever executed, fut moreover for the disrepute and

self-reproach attached to the execution of it in a manner thus adverse to the

workmans own presumable principles. Under these circumstances, it will be seen

what probability there is that, by the hands of a foreigner, any intentional

sacrifice of the greatest happiness of the greatest number of the community in

question would come to be effectual, or so much as to have been proposed: and

therefore, that to any such person any such invitation, or to any offer, if made

by him, an acceptance, should be given. Oh yes, if being a foreigner he were not

known to be so. But by the supposition, as above, this case is excluded.