1822 July 7

Constitut. Code Rationale

Established Religion none

In vain would any one /the Monarch/ say - of such importance is the matter /subject/ in our eyes and such the danger /sad probability/ that notwithstanding its importance it will unless the course in question be taken, be unattended to or unbelief or false belief in relation to it be inculcated and embraced, that to avert so great an evil it is in our judgments /eyes/ necessary to take this course

Happiness you yourselves insist upon it is at stake: happiness not in this life only but in another: in another life, the difference between the extreme of happiness /felicity/, and the extreme of misery, the happiness and misery not of this or that individual only, but of all without exception. What? [...?] are we then to believe - to believe one and all - and upon no other proof /evidence/ than your own assertion contradicted by your own practice that there are so many individuals to no one of whom is his own happiness so dear to himself as it is to you? his own happiness in this life his own happiness in another life? in another life the difference between happiness in the extreme and misery in the extreme [...? ...?]

Oh but he will be deceived: if the matter be not laid before him no notion on the subject will he entertain in relation to the subject: if it be not laid before him in the manner we prescribe, the notions entertained by him on the subject will be erroneous, and in such sort erroneous as to be noxious: noxious to himself and in an indefinite number to others.

No notions? what on a subject on which in your own eyes or at least according to your own lips the difference between the extreme of happiness and the extreme of misery in every mans case /instance/ depends not only will he himself be indifferent but so will every one else? Is it then to be supposed that in this case no one will rise up to state to him the peril he is in, and with or without pay, offer to shew him how he may deliver himself from it. If by /in the/ night time in a dark street, a house is discovered or thought to be on fire, is there ever on the part of those who have discovered or think they have discovered it any want of the humanity or exertion sufficient to raise a cry of Fire, Fire! or of common sense on the part of those whom it concerns any want of the common sense necessary to their attending to it?