JB_172_186.xml

Title: [1820 Nov r 12 Rid Yourselves]

Description: 1820 Nov r 12

Rid Yourselves

Introduction

J.B.'s Opinion

'.7. Jeremy Bentham's Opinion A o 1792 as applied to France and

to distant dependencies in general.

Permitt me to conclude with a more particular reference to my own opinion, as above

spoken of, appplied as it was, in the only direct purpose of it, to the case of

France. The work, in which the grounds of it are briefly developed, is a pamphlet of

48 8vo. pages headed Jeremy Bentham to the National Convention of France:

better characterized by the three words of exhortation that occur in the first

sentence - Emanciapte Your Colonies. It was printed in

January 1793: it has incidentally found its way into various hands; but has not ever

yet been exposed to sale. A copy is ere this, at the disposal of the Cortes, if

honoured by their acceptance: a few other copies are at Madrid in private hands.

My friends, even in those days I was not altogether unknown in the country to which

on that occasion I was addressing myself. But any thing more on this head would lead

me too wide from the subject.

But this time you will have heard more or less of my work on Punishments and Rewards, edited in French by Mr. Dumont of Geneva. In the Volume on Rewards is a Chapter on Colonies.

The matter of it was extracted from my above mentioned pamphlet. The reasoning

applies alike to all other countries holding remote dependencies: England not

excepted.

In various works of other persons, it can not but be that opinions to this effect

have incidentally been delivered: but I know not of any other in which the question

has ever been argued in form as in these of mine.

To return to Spain. If the product of the dominion in question was loss even in

those days, what would it be in these? - Spaniards! the inquiry is now fully in your

hands.

JB_172_166.xml

Title: [1820 Dec 30 copied Revised 1822 March 18]

Description: 1820 Dec 30 copied Revised 1822 March 18

Introduction

'. 6. J.B.'s Opinion 1792

' Jeremy Bentham's Opinion, with Reasons, as applied to

France, and distant dependencies in general, A o 1792.

I conclude this Introduction with a more particular reference to my

own opinion, as above spoken of, applied as it was in the only direct purpose of it,

to the case of France.

The work, in which the grounds of it are briefly developed, is a

pamphlet of 48 8 vo pages, headed Jeremy

Bentham to the National Convention of France.

Better would it have been characterized by the three words of exhortation that occur

in the first sentence - Emancipate your Colonies. It was

printed in the last month of 1792 or the first of 1793: it has incidentally found its

way into various hands: but has scarcely ever been exposed to sale. A copy of it was,

along with others of my works presented to the late Cortes, by which the same regard

was paid to it as to your liberties and your welfare. Among the representatives of

your neighbours, those words such as they are, have not been alike unfortunate.

My

JB_172_168.xml

Title: [1820. Dec r 30. Revised 1822 March 20]

Description: 1820. Dec r 30. Revised 1822 March 20

Rid Yourselves of Ultramaria. Tables to the Introduction

(d) by net amount seems to be here meant,

what was considered as the net amount of the sums received in Spain, after deduction

made of those expended in Ultramaria. But, to find the result in respect of profit

and loss from the dominion over Ultramaria to Spain, against this so stiled net amount, must be set that part of the aggregate expence

of Spain, which, but for the dominion, would not have had existence: and which it is

supposed would not be found so little as twice the amount of this stiled net profit.

See Table II.

Table I. Conjunct Revenue Table Spanish ULtramarian including namely,

Spanish and Spanish-America, at seven different periods

Public Revenue of Spain: Exclusive of that called Indian Revenue, (b) according to Townsend's Journey

through Spain 2 d. Edit. 1792. II. 184. 185, 186. 190 ed.

Reals Vellon

Pounds Sterling

Public Revenue termed Indian Revenue

according to Townsend. II 184, 185 2 d. Edit.

Reals Vellon.

Pounds Sterling

(b.) In articles 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, the sums are the remainders after

deducting from those in Townsend the sums mentioned in his Table as the amount of the

Revenue, called Indians Revenue: those amounts are here

brought together in the Table headed Indian Revenue.

(c.) In the Table, in which this infomation is inserted, the year is

1774. This, however, must have been a mistake: for, in the particulars already given

(II. 182.) of this same revenue, the years 1785 and 1786, are mentioned.

(d.) By net amount.