[xxxvi. 32]

1821. April 25.

First Lines

The opinion entertained which, in the case in question, is, by /that/ the quantity of the matter of wealth so employed, and produced, and for the purpose of securing universal obsequiousness, endeavoured to be produced is - that, by the persons by whom the quantity of the matter of wealth in question is possessed, and for the advancement of their own particular interest, according to the conception entertained by them of that same interest, employed in the endeavour to afford additional gratification to their respective appetites is effectually employed /if not employed/ in the making a clear addition to the happiness of the gretest number, is employed at any rate in /to/ some either equally or superiorly proper purpose: for that Whatsoever be the quality or other thing designated by the word excelence, such is the excellence that belongs to them - whatsoever quantity (whether it be exaltations in the scale of virtue public or private, or both, or exaltation in any other scale of still superior dignity - say for example piety) - whatsoever quantity of the matter of wealth instead of being left in each instance at the disposal of those /him/ by whose labour and capital it has been poduced, is employed in the endeavour to afford additional gratification to the appetites of these same exalted persons, is employed in a manner more useful, more dignified, or, on some other account, more laudable, than it would have been had it been left to pursue its original and originally intended /first/ destination as above.