date

1 Sep. 1809 Parl y Reform B.'s Necessity
1 Sep. 1809

Parl y Reform B.'s Necessity

'.{3.} King's interest 2. power

Tests - their use to despotism

{10}

1

1

'. Tests [?] - their use in the propagation of immoral dependence. /to despotism./

The political instrument which, by a metaphor taken from chemical science /chemistry/ /the science of chemistry/ has been called /designated by the name of/ a test , is an instrument which having been invented for the purpose of propagating the two fold demon corruption has in a most felicitous and compleat degree fulfilled that /such/ its intended purpose.

It consists in pitching upon some opinion, the more absurd the better, and causing a man to declare /assert/, by /in/ some solemn and permanent /and effectually published/ form of words, as a matter of fact, that that opinion is in his mind among the objects of his persuasion and belief: that he believes such or such a thing to be true.

The more absurd it is, the fitter it is for this purpose: because the more absurd the more difficult ore in one word the more clearly impossible that it should really be believed to be true.

A proposition /A physical absurdity or impossibility/ for example that stands in contradiction to uniform experience, especially if to such a sort and degree repugnant to it /experience/ as to be not only incapable of being believed to have been in any instance exemplified, but such as /that/ the exemplification of it can not so much as be conceived: such that no picture can be painted of it in the human mind. That for example the same individual body exists at the same time in more places, all distant from one another, than one.

A proposition of that sort might at first sight appear as if well adapted, beyond any other that can be imagined, to assume[?] the purpose of such a test. But there is yet one that goes beyond it. This is that sort of no[?] grammatical or verbal or absurdity , which is called a contradiction in terms : and of /among/ all contradictions in terms that which may be called an arithmetical or numerical one, seems to occupy in the scale of absurdity the highest place. /most conspicuous and elevated place./

That two and two are not equal to four : that one and one and one do not make three , and so forth.
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  • Title: [28 Sep. 1809 Parl y Reform]
    Description: 28 Sep. 1809

    Parl y Reform

    B.I. Necessity

    Tests

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    Religion the sole sanction that can bear[?] upon it.

    Unless it be thus that the absurdity of the thing professed to be believed be so palpable, that all who profess to believe it will from that circumstantial evidence be concluded mendacious.

    As to the degree of probability between the one and the other result, this is a topic /subject/ which can not {so} well be considered till /entered upon as/ some particular eventual burthen and consequently some particular occasion by which the eventual imposition of it is introduced be brought to view.

    Mean time for argument sake, let it be supposed that the opposite forces are in such manner ballanced that the number of those who submitt to the burthen and the number of those who submitt to committ the act of are in each given space of time equal.

    On this supposition here are two results produced all along together: viz the exclusion of reputedly-unfit /presumedly-unfit/ persons from the situation in question; and the production of so many acts of mendacity, and thence of so many liars, which liars notwithstanding their being such, gave admission into the situation for which even if they were not /had they not been/ liars their unfitness /being unfit/ is presumed: and the number of the persons who, notwithstanding their assumed unfitness, and their having been thus first converted into liars are admitted into the situation, {having first been converted into liars,} is by the supposition equal to the number of non-liars, whose aversion to lying whose respect for truth, having been proved by the test, are by means of it extended from the situation, and thence subjected to the burthen to which by the being extended from the benefit in question a man is subjected.
  • Title: [27 Sep r 1809 Thamophthora[?] Septology]
    Description: 27 Sep r 1809

    Thamophthora[?] Septology

    Parl y Reform

    Thamophthora[?] Septology

    B. I Necessity

    Ch. […?] […?]

    Title. On the Remote Causes of Mendacity and insincerity

    in English minds: together with the means of cure.

    Title. Phthorology

    Psychophthora

    On National Corruption its causes & remedies

    Septology: or

    Elements of the act of corruption moral and intellectual.

    corruption as applied to the mental including the intellectual and

    moral parts of mans frame as applied to the head and heart of man: with an

    1 Purposes of tests. 1. Purely political: 2. Religious.

    Inutility and mischief of Religious Tests

    2. If the credence[?] were probable, no need of, no use in exacting declaration of

    it.

    3. If improbable, the more improbable the greater the probability of producing

    insincere declarations of belief, instead of sincere belief. Such insincerity will it

    affect salvation or not?

    4 If not, there can be no motive for abstaining from it: and the commission of it

    being urged by the most cogent motives, takes place of course.

    5 If salvation be affected by it, think of /what is/ the price

    paid for the advantage supposed to be gained?

    6. As to the 39 articles the date coupled with the number and length of them is

    conclusive though but circumstantial evidence of the falshood and absurdity of at

    least a great part of them.

    Clergy, and all others who take the such[?] test are exposed to the action of a

    cause of immorality over and above what applies to any other men

    They have not a claim equal to that of men at large to be taken at their word.

    Test-swallowing, a stronger objection to evidentiary trustworthiness, than

    prostitution to females.

    A test an instrument for the manufacturing political tools: profligate subordination

    for the use of profligate superiors.

    Inutility and Mischief of tests (religious.)

    7. Be the fact probable or improbable what moral merit can there be in believing it?

    what use[?], as to all such, from the belief of which it

    follows not that any thing ought by men to be done?

    8. If the fact be probable and appear so, it will be believed of course: the more

    probable it is the more likely to be believed that where can be the merit of

    believing it. I believe what I am sitting on to be […?] a chair: &c. but

    where is any merit in so doing?

    9. If, being improbable it appears so to me I can not believe it: to say it appears

    improbable to me and yet that I believe it is a contradiction in terms. I may try to

    believe it, (viz. as above) but this is all I can do: and while I am only trying to

    believe it, I do not believe it.

    10. If being improbable, it does not appear so to me that is if it being really

    improbable I believe it notwithstanding, I believe it without sufficient reason. I am

    credulous, weak, foolish.

    Aggravation of the Mischief.

    11. What aggravates the mischief is that men – ashamed of the insincerity – the original insincerity – and confident of not being in danger

    of being convicted of it, persevere in it and add to it.

    12. It is not every man that will have the honesty to confess, as Caley[?] did, that

    he could not afford to keep a conscience.

    13. But though A and B. can not be proved guilty /no person individually taken can be

    convicted/ of insincerity in denying their original insincerity[?], if he chooses to

    persevere in it and add to it, yet that a great part say the greater of those who

    subscribe subscribe without believing, may be established beyond dispute.

    Interposition of Bishops & Women in politics[?] […?] […?] ridiculous: Women

    obliged to conceal their desires: Bishops their opinions.

    To the continued explanation of the several instruments therein employed viz. 1.

    Subscriptions to articles of faith. 2. University Matriculation Oaths. 3. Creeds. 4.

    Jurymen’s unanimity Oaths 5. Custom House Oaths 6. Judicial Fictions.

    Protestants reproaching Catholics with bearing a head who occasionally has released

    men from the obligations contracted by an Oath. But Anglican Protestants release

    themselves habitually and universally.
  • Title: [28 Sep. 1809 Parl y Reform]
    Description: 28 Sep. 1809

    Parl y Reform

    B.I. Necessity

    Tests

    23

    1. Recent[?] sentence[?] applies not.

    2. As to religious practise, the act is but one lie: a lie that appears to do no harm to any body: the greater the godd[?] the greater the estimator[?] Establishment - [...?] will diminish the wickedness of mendacity for the purpose of justifying the test, exaggerating it for the purpose of unfavouring[?] latent[?] enemies and rivals.

    2. Next as to the inefficiency of the motions operating on restraint of mendacity so circumstanced