29 April 1807

Lawyers judged

Letter I

In the course of the ensuing discussion of the ensuing warfare for such it is impossible that it should not be, two results /tendencies/ will [...?] to inflict /produce/ pain, and to excite hostility: the adverse effect the ultimate prejudice to the official and professional /corporate and confederated/ interest/, being the effect which it is the direct object of these pages to produce /accomplish/: and the wounds that in the course of the struggle /contention/ may come to be given to /inflicted on/ the personal feelings /reputation/consideration and thence/ of the individuals more particularly concerned.

As to the authors of the several papers, whosoever they may be, for I have succeeded compleatly in any endeavours to avoid knowing whatsoever blame if any may fall upon them is inevitable and remediless. One comfort at any rate, if not to them, /at any rate/ to me their adversary is - that their names not being public, whatsoever obloquy if any, may happen to fall on them, will fall proportionably light: and if obloquy /like any other burthen /other burthen's obloquy/ by being shared is lessened they will each of them behold in their colleagues and other relatives so many sharers, that to the most acutely sensible of all, it will I hope, and trust if at all be scarcely felt but as a flea-bite.

As to the reproach of being an enemy to the people /increases[?] to the public good/, besides that it will not be shared by so many, of themselves so numerous and respected a society it will rest with each of them, individually taken, to take up as much or as little of it as he pleases /sees convenient/: if he takes /taking/ it up he has a host to share it with him and keep him in countenance if his desire[?] be not to merit it, and then not to bear it, /to avoid bearing being subjected to it/ that, too awaits his pleasure if it be his pleasure to be a friend to the people /public interest/, and to go over to that side, nothing can be plainer or more open than the road.