9 Aug 1804

Procedure

CB

E 6a +6b

Thus wretched is the tool, thus impotent to every useful purpose thus potent to every mischievous one - which lawyers in all countries /places/ and in all ages /times/, have been so well content to work with. Content? and why? because it is the tool /instrument/ of their own making - the tool of which they have the monopoly, the tool by which alone without opposition or disturbance they are enabled to work to their own ends.

Boundless accordingly and shameless are the dogmas with which on all possible occasions in and out of season, they are never tired with [...?] it /of heaping on it/: as if haunted on every occasion by the consciousness of its worthlessness - apprehensive of the voice of just complaint - and seeing no reason but that /means of defence against it but in the hope/ of drowning it in the din /roar/ of exaggerated /animated/ /thunderous/ applause.

For this purpose no misrepresentation is ever spared by a class of men in whose language the art /practice/ of misrepresentation stiles itself a duty, and to whom the practice of it is a daily exercise.