date

1820 Feb. 17 Radicalism not dangerous
1820 Feb. 17

Radicalism not dangerous

III. Experience

II. Ireland

Radicalism origin of

Instruments of felicity

3. Factitious Dignity its evil effects

6

In this case the least bad purpose and effect that can /could/ belong to it would be - its being bestowed upon no other individuals than the companions and instruments of the private pleasures of the Prince /Monarch and his family/: to buts[?], buffoons and procurers, and no others: indeed could its application be attached exclusively to such characters its effect would be nearly harmless.

But the serious bad purpose and effect belonging to it is the application made of it in the character of an instrument of corruption.

In the case /situation/ of a Duke were it possible for a member of the aristocracy in that highest or any other order of it to become with zeal and sincerity a supporter of the cause of the subject many /people/, an instrument of factitious dignity with a visible symbol to it in the shape of a blue ribbon would be sufficient /suffice/ to draw him off and render him an adversary to that cause and when a man has not as yet a place in the aristocratic body, an instrument of factitious dignity without any such visible symbol - a mere name such as a barronetcy or even a knighthood /hereditary or even non-hereditary/, is continually productive of the same effect.

Money and power are the bones and muscles of the body politic: factitious dignity in all its shapes is but a wen upon the neck of it.
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    When this […?] has continued full for a twelvemonth Kings /a King/ limited Monarch calling himself limited will be satisfied with his civil list the quantity of efficient virtue in all its shapes will be quantity of efficient emolument and in a Ministry[?], and to be limited, the Civil list will have its limits.
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    by the Vote of those who been kept in place by him for that very purpose, vouchsafe to stile themselves your representatives, being chosen as such by those on whom alone if representation were what it pretended to be policy[?] and their paymaster would find that obedience of /by/ which their power is composed /constituted/.
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    This nice discrimination all this nicety of discrimination factitious dignity supposing it ever to have any such object as the production of meritorious service necessarily confounds and puts out of sight. So many Knights of the Garter, so many Knights of the Bath, so many Knights of the Thistle, so many Knights of S t Patrick so many simple Knights /Knights Bachelors/ so many Baronets, suppose all these men to have rendered to the country in some shape or other meritorious public service, how in any one instance can you perceive or so much as discover in what degree or in what shape the service has been rendered?

    Meritorious public service - factitious dignity - is it possible without extreme violence even for so short a time and for the purpose of the argument to bring the mind to conceive[?] /keep forced into the mind the conception/ of any tendency on their part to take up their abode in the same subject receptacle?

    Personal favour or money - look at /open the book of/ history in these two causes you will behold the original and only ordinary[?] sources of distinction in that shape.

    Look in the first place to the order of the garter. A /As a/ token of the place occupied by the wearer in the private affections of the Monarch - in this character and no other, as every body may see, was it conferred.

    As to the others one and all they are but so many copies inferior copies of the /that/ same original.

    In one thing they all agree and that is a […?] with the person.

    One lot of factitious dignity there is which is hereditary which in imitation of that composed of independent /irresponsible/ power and factitious dignity called a peerage is capable of continuing for ever in the same family descending to the eldest and nearest male of the last possessor. Of this institution what is the purpose? Giving encrease to meritorious public service? No such thing. What then? Giving encrease to the wasteful and selfish expenditure of the Monarch in pursuit of his own individual pleasures. It was sold by him to who ever would pay the price for it; sold, and the produce of it poured into that tub of the Danaides his privy purse.