[xxxvi. 46]

1821. May 15.

First Lines

4 Constitution

4 Instruments Delusion

Downright falshood

False intenuation

Slendour, lustre of the Crown, the Throne, &tc.

Not only in respect of the magnitude of the scale, but in respect of the evil done by a given sum thus obtained, the evil produces by money obtained by false pretences by acknowledged malefactores for their own use is inconsiderable in comparison of the evil produced by money obtained on these pretences by those by whom the powers of government are possessed and applied to this use.

1. Where it is by the acknowledged malefactor that money obtained on a punishable false pretence is obtained the mischief of the second order is, if not nothing, next to nothing. In the eyes of each man, his own prudence is a sufficient security against the repetition of such practices at his expense. No such security can be seen or fancied by the prostrate subject - the helpless /remediless/ labourer - from whose hands the produce of his labour is wrung from him on this pretence.

To the physical sufferance from extortion, and the fear of endlessly encreasing extortion is added in this case the moral evil constituted by the false pretence. On some of /the part of/ those from whom the money is wrung, a falshood, perhaps, produces its intended effect - the delusion is produced. Whether any such deception /dupery/ is experienced by those who are active or willing contributors to those exercises of irresistible power by which the extortion is produced, let any man judge.