date

1820. Decr. 21. Rid Yourselves
1820. Decr. 21.

Rid Yourselves

Introduction

Jeremy Bentham to the Spanish poeple.

Rid Yourselves of Ultramaria!

'. 1. Anger deprecated.

Spaniards.

Demosthenes, (says the story) having to propose to the people of

Athens a measure he knew them to be set against by the strongest prepossessions,

entered the Assembly with a halter about his neck. "Strangle me" (he cried aloud)

"Strangle me, if such be your pleasure, but at any rate first hear me." Spaniards

this halter of the Athenian Statesman I feel as if I had it on my own neck; I feel as

if I had myself fastened it there, fastened it by the opinion which, thus at the very

first word, I have so undisguisedly placed before you. My friends, I am playing a

deep game. It is now as near sixty as fifty years since, /in the field of

legislation/ I devoted my labours to the service of mankind in the field of

legislation and it is by you that those labours have been sweetened with some of

their fairest hopes. Yes if I have not been strangely and abundantly misinformed

foreigner to you and Englishman as I am some place under all that disadvantage, I do

possess in your regard: this which is among the most honourable of my possessions,

this it is that I am thus staking upon one throw. Whoever among you is angry with me,

by the warmth of his anger let him judge of the ardour of that zeal, which has forced

me thus to expose myself to it. To expose myself to it? and for what? For no other

reward than this, how faint soever may be my chance for it, the satisfaction I mean

of seeing you rid yourselves of what, in my eyes, is the most oppressive of all your

burthens. When you have heard what in that hope I have to say to you, do to me then,

if you can find it in your hearts, do by me as the Athenian of old called upon his

countrymen to do by him. Turn the screw of your instrument of death upon these my

fondest hopes.

'. 1. Order pursued.

Meantime, if I am in error, see, in the first place, whether I am

singular in it: see whether, on this ground, I have not some claim upon your

indulgence.

Spaniards! what my opinion on the subject is now in 1822 was, in the year 1787, and,

I know not how long before, as I dare believe it has been since, the opinion of your

own rulers. Yes: their own declared opinion. And by what dictated? By their own

separate interests or interest-begotten prejudices? No: but by their own clear view

of the facts, and the conclusion forced upon them by those facts: not by any of those

instruments of seduction, but in spite of all of them. The opinion generally current?

Oh, Yes: - And at what time? at the time of
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    Introduction

    Addendum

    '.1. Indulgence entreated

    Spaniards! muster up all your patience - all your forbearance - all your indulgence:

    ere long you will have need of it. Your Constitution is my patient: I its unbidden

    Surgeon. Over and over again, my probe must go to the quick. Be your resentment ever

    so strong, suffer it not to master you: put strict guard upon yourselves, lest to

    mortify your obtrusive friend, whom in an angry moment you may call your enemy, you

    punish yourselves.