14 Jan y 1817

Necessity Cat

1 Theory

§.4. Probity how securable

16

Q. < > This seems pretty well out of dispute. But now then how is it that matters can /shall/ be so ordered as that in the situation in question that is /viz/ that of a person possessor[?] of a part in the whole of the supreme power in a state this cluster[?] this combination of Military interests shall find nothing or at least nothing effectual to oppose it?

A. That which it is plainly /in his own view /conception/ of the matter/ out of a man’s power to effect, he will have no interest in endeavouring to effect. In any endeavour he may be disposed to use for the advancement of his own personal interest at the expence of the universal interest a man in whose hands the whole of the supreme power is lodged in a word an absolute Monarch in a word will find nothing to oppose him. At whatsoever expence to the rest /all the other members /of the commu {-nity he may shut the door of his dwelling /habitation/ /mind/ against the apprehensions of all imaginable sources /instruments/ of pain and meanness[?] in every shape he may crowd into it the assurances of all imaginable instruments of pleasure and security.} /-nity he may crowd together within his own grasp the whole stock of the instruments of felicity and security./ Place /Lodge/ the power in the hands of Instead of one person place the power in the hands of two, each in his endeavours to engross to himself the instruments of felicity will, so long as the arrangement lasts, find an opponent in the other: if in this state of things they continue each of them in possession in his share in the supreme power each will have found himself under the necessity of letting[?] on the other for an equal share of the good things of this world in all their other shapes. Keep on thus adding one such line to the number of sharers in that supreme power at every stop you will be adding one to the number of those whose partial interest is thus advanced at the expence of the universal interest that is of the remainder of the universal interest, till at last you will find that the interest which was the partial interest is become itself the universal interest.