12 April 1805

Evidence

Introd.

Judge

Such are the objects which interest, professional interest, sinister interest, seconded by full power - full power - would naturally prompt men to pursue in the construction of a system of procedure. Such are the objects which, it will be seen but too plainly, have actually been pursued uniformly pursued, and every where in the construction of the technical system of procedure.

Such at any rate are the results which have taken place, in proportion as the technical system has been rendered what it is in proportion as it deviated from the natural the domestic system that standard of perfection of the utility of which had been manifested the constructors of the technical in common with the rest of mankind, by inherent experience. In what way the several results have flowed from the several leading arrangements which from the character of the system will be seen as we advance.

From the existence of a state of things, in a certain degree, in the character of a result /an effect/, it follows not by any means that in the same degree it must have been an object and end of action, in the eyes of those by whose agency it was produced /brought into existence/. But in what degree the result was also /had also been/ an object - i.e. in what degree with relation to the description /[...?]/ of persons in question it was an object of design or at least of contemplation, in what degree a matter of mere accident, is a question /point/ of no practical importance and altogether beyond the reach of scrutiny, and happily as immaterial as it is inscrutable.