8 June 1805

Evidence

Introd.

Ch. False Ends - Judge

' Corruption. Cause

Thus it was, that, from so simple a cause as this unfortunate connection, thus it was that in the most important of all lines of service the matter of reward became, became and to the whole amount of it, the matter, the wages of corruption, conferring on /making in the bosom of/ the Judge an interest acting in complete opposition to his duty, in complete opposition to the ends of justice. Thus it is that whatever little intelligence and ingenuity was in those rude times to be found in that commanding station, was directed to that disasterous species of manufacture, making business: to the giving to the system of procedure that sort of form and texture which should render it as productive as possible in the character of a fund of fees. (a)

In our days, the hands of Judges are tied, the eyes o their constitutional superiors, the eyes of an enlightened and jealous public are fixed continually upon them, and Judges like men of other ranks, and especially in high places, trained by education know fear in their bosoms a breath /the preponderance of a bubble/ of reputation - over a mass of opulence. In those early /rude/ days, and throughout the course of ages during which under the influence of the corruptive format[?] /harm of corruption/, the system of procedure was developing itself and repining into the present state of rottenness, the Judge was fastened[?] by no rules, was subject to no inspection: no constitutional superior, or none but what was either in a state of complicity with him or in a state of sleep, the people imminently /universally[?]/ blind and stupid, rapacity in the judicial as in every other station of the judge in every other, raiding too much and wearing[?] none. Stalking forth without a mask. Stalking forth and devouring its prey - without a mark.