6 Dec r 1803

Evidence

2 Notoriety

''.3 Notoriety

the ca\ses in which it is then profited by bear a very small proportion ended to the cases in which [...?] fact /is facts/ of being profited by, in consequence of their almost perfect non-notoriety with reference to all sorts of persons, on the occasions in which an acquaintance with him would be sufficient to annihilate the influence of the good and necessary substantive laws /the effective power of which are thus [...?]/ of which are then preyed upon by those adjective /debilitative/ laws. Supposing them present on all occasions to the [...?] of evil disposed person of all classes, the body of mischief flowing from them would be too oppressive to be endured.

So far as the body of laws, taken in the aggregate is good, the non-notoriety of them, it is evident in this part of the people is a most deplorable misfortune, and the not rendering /making/them on the part of government universally known, so far as such notification is practicable, an act of flagrant and equally deplorable negligence.

As it is, laws of a pernicious complexion being in every country so unhappily abundant, the non-notoriety of the laws, good and bad together, operates in a proportionable degree in the character of a benefit. Thus it is that one abuse, one vast of pile of abuse, acts /operates/ in a certain degree in the character of a palliative to another abuse: as in medicine instances /examples/ are sometimes seen in which one disease acts in the character of a remedy to another disease.

The great misfortune is that the bad laws, whether bad in themselves, or bad on account of their weakening other laws, can not this purpose be picked out from the good ones: + and therefore it is, that so long as the whole body of the laws in any country, taken in the aggregate has more of good than evil /less of evil than of good/ in it, the non-notoriety of it, also taken in the aggregate, will continue to be a most crying grievance. How far the effectual promulgation is practicable, and by what means, are questions of too extensive /too much/ import to find an answer here. With respect to the means of promulgation, an expedient of very extensive applicability will be brought to view in the course of the next succeeding book /ensuing pages/.

+ to select them push them out by authority for non-promulgation by authority - declare of this or that for that it shall not be known, would be a contradiction in terms. The abolition of them would be not only mere of eligible and effectual, but less impracticable.