15 June 1805

Evidence

Introd

Ch. Procedure Technical

''.4.2. on the part of indigence

At that variable rate interest, but, whether small or great in its relative /a/ quantity, always enormous in its /a/ absolute quantity, into whose pocket is it received /gathered/? Not into that of the injured creditor, but into that of the accomplice and instrument of the iniquity, the man of law. Behold The [...?] hypocrite, with hands and eyes lifted up /raised up/ to heaven, declaim /declaiming/ against rapacity in the person of the trader /creditor/, stamped /branded/ for the purpose with the name of usurer, while under the sanction of a foolish and antiquated law, rewards the salvation [...?] on the borrower by a fine imposed on the saviour to the amount of exactly three times the money lent /lent by him/ /so employed by him/. Generous /Virtuous/ indignation: but, where is the latent, the real grievance? that the price of [...?] has gone into the wrong pocket: while /mean time/ /at the same time/ the very suit which gives occasion /affords opportunity/ to the [...?] of all this zeal for justice, affords its profit to the right one to the official /sacred/ pocket to which the technical system had appropriated it.

Certain it is, that whether the profit made by unlicenced oppressors or supposed oppressors be or be not an object of envy: licenced and licencing ones, certain it is that such is the destination of the price thus paid for delay, is altogether notorious /out of dispute/.

What profit that ever fill into that sacred pocket, was ever matter /cause/ of real indignation, what miseries that ever were produced by profit so received were ever matter /cause/ of real sympathy, to the man of law?