18 Jan y. 1810

Parl y. Reform

Ch.18 Sp. ?

'.2

27

4

But while regard for self is the most necessary of all propensities, so is it and that universally beyond all comparison the strongest. Such is its strength, so much excuding [ sic] /suppressing[?]/ that of any other to which it can happen to come in competition with it, and for the good of the species in general to be requisite to operate as /constitute/ a check to it, that i any such view as that of contributing to the welfare of the whole species or of any part of it, the idea of employing in any such way as that of exhortation, or indeed in any other way the influence of authority, in the view /for the purpose/ of engaging men /a man/ to endeavour to give additional force to it would be no /little/ less ridiculous than the conceit of him whose wish it should be to see it on all occasions overcome /overruled/ and reduced to inefficiency by some propensity of a more refined and sentimental nature.

It would be a folly equal to that which seems not as yet to have ever found its exemplification, viz that of seeking by legislative encouragements to engage every human being by eating and drinking to do his utmost towards the preservation of the individual, or to that other which to but too great an extent has found its exemplification, viz. to engage every human being by a suitable course of conduct in like manner to do his utmost towards the preservation and extension /multiplication/ of the species.