date

[129a–333] 23 Jan y 1817 Plan
[129a–333]

23 Jan y 1817

Plan Cat

Postscript

Conclusion

1

It is but too true the course /track/ in which the government of /in/ this country is engaged /the machine of government/ leads to the abyss of ruin: unless its people interpose to stop it, its arrival there is certain: what we have suffered hitherto, what we are now suffering is but the beginning of source[?]

Such is the effect, and now behold the cause.

In Every community the business of government is a partnership more[?]

In this as in other countries /communities/, the Monarch the managing partner – the Monarch well as every other member has his share in the universal /common/ interest: so far as the course pursued by him is directed and directed with effect to the advancement of such his share so far it is directed to the profit of the partnership

But in this Monarchy as in every other the Monarch has a separate interest of his own: and so far as to the prejudice of and in preference to his share in the partnership: this separate interest is pursued the interest of the partnership, the universal interest of the whole community is sacrificed to it. From the commencement of the Monarch down to the present day to a greater or less extent this sacrifice has constantly been made: and it is by the enormity to which since the commencement of the war made {upon French liberty} upon the dawn of good government in France that the distress /miseries/ of this country has been brought to /to/ its present pitch.

In France {in which the two heads or sources of expenditure are not confounded as here} the distinction may thus be made apparent: personal expence of the sovereign under Bonaparte, 1/ 27 under Lewis the 18 th

1/ 17

th of the whole sum total of the public expenditure If by cheating the whole partnership together of one pound, it be in the power of the Managing partner to put into his own pocket two pound and without any danger of being obliged to refund it, it may be said to be in this case, in so far as concerns immediate pecuniary interest, his interest so to do so.
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    Q. 4. True: and that he should on any occasion deviate into any such sinister course, is consequently in the eyes of every one by whom the end in question is regarded as the sole proper end, altogether undesirable. But into this /any /no/ such/ sinister course he will never /will he ever/ deviate, unless where and in so far as, compared with his share in the universal interest, this self-regarding this personal and this separate and this sinister {his} interest is the strongest: - think you that he will?

    A. No: but unfortunately on many not to say most occasions such will be the case. The separate interest it is all his own, the universal interest he has millions upon millions of individuals /human beings/ to share with him in: the more concentrated will always overpower /overbear/ and predominate over the more diluted interest. His own personal interest is interest in its most di[?] concentrated state: the universal interest in what is here the object then comes in competition with his own individual personal interest his share in the universal interest - is interest in its most diluted state.

    The case of this sort of public partnership is exactly, with no other difference than that which is constituted by /consists in/ the difference in numbers, exactly the same case as that of a private partnership. If by any line of conduct by which his share in the partnership concern /estate/ would sustain a loss to the amount of one hundred pound his separate estate would obtain a profit to the amount of two hundred pound, here you see is a manifest opposition between self-regarding interest and that branch of social duty between his personal interest and his share in the common interest - here is at any rate a temptation to sacrifice to interest that branch of social duty - here is a sinister interest which as between pecuniary interest on the one part and pecuniary interest on the other part is the more concentrated interest the stronger interest, and that by which as such setting aside any such tutelary interests, legal moral and religious as may happen to operate in his bosom with more or less force, can not but be the prevalent one, and that in such sort as that the line of his conduct shall be determined by it.
  • Title: [1822 June 10 Economy Part IV]
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  • Title: [[Marginal summary sheet[?]] [Mainly]
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    14 Jan y 1817

    Necessity Cat

    1 Theory

    § 4. Probity how securable

    1

    1

    § 4. Probity how securable?

    Q 1 - Recapitulation - < > question - By what arrangements < > of the form of government can appropriate probity on the part of the supreme rulers be most effectually secured -

    A. Short answer: such by means of which each such ruler shall find it his interest to entertain the destrosetion[?] in question, and constantly to act up to it -

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    Q 2: i e. that in the current phrases it shou’d be his interest should in each coincide with his duty -

    A - Yes -

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    Q.3. But under every form of government are the instances of every possessor of supreme power does not interest coincide with duty? - i.e the line of conduct presented by interest coincide with d o. prescribed by duty? Exists there that office bearer who possesses not a share in the universal interest? as great a share as any other can possess? -

    A. No. But in addition to that fractional interest every member of the community rulers included has an integral interest, viz. a purely personal interest which being distinct from his share in the universal interest is liable to be opposite to it

    A - Yes -

    §. 4 Probity how securable

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    Q 4 - This 1 undurable it therefore is that he should never deviate, will any such sinister cource. But then he will not deviate, unless and in so far as his such his private compared with public interest is the strongest: will he? -

    A. No - but mostly so it will be. The seperate interest is an integer: his share in the universal interest is but a < > fraction, as one to a number of millions. This sinister interest of his acts in the most < > his public in a highly diluted state

    {5}

    Ans. In this respect, with no other difference than what depends on the number of the portions, this public is on the footing of a private partnership. Bating the tutelary force of the interest < > political or legal, the /by the/ popular or moral, and the religious sanctions, if by a conduct by which the value of his share as the partnership would be diminished one hundred pound a partner can gain two hundred so he will do -

    5

    Q 5 - You mean that conduct will be determined by the stronger interest viz - when thereby general happiness will not only not be encreased but diminished.

    A. Yes - that in the < > of the powers of government < > to be the supposition acted upon say, as there may be so each had several interests by the stronger body of interest -

    7

    Q 7 - Teach you then that for example on every occasion in which by sacrificing one pound, a man may gain two he will make the sacrifice?

    A - Not exactly so: only for the sale if the explanation said so: if these were really so, no imprudence; nothing but consummate prudence.

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    I. On each occasion man’s conduct is determined by what in his own conception of the matter is at the < > most conducive to the aggregate interest corresponding to the < > quantity of happiness expected to be enjoyed by him during life:

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    8

    Q. 8. What always notwithstanding the known abundances of of imprudences? -

    A. Yes - individuals persons not known nothing known but the general comprehension of names nature[?], and the particular situation of the sort it man in question, such the supposition on what we are induced to act This ground is not a fallacious as it may be seen. Per Adam < >. Bankruptcies are comparatively rare: and of Bankruptcies only a part are produced either by improbity or imprudence. - By the very notice taken of imprudences their rarity is evidenced: only by what is rare is nature attracted.