17 Decr 1801

Maximum

Long introduced[?]

1

In regard to this question I had remained in that state of self-conscious and

quiet ignorance, in which I have never found any difficulty in remaining in

regard to any question in which I had no particular motive for bestowing a

thorough examination suspended between what seemed to me to be a plain and primâ

facie conclusive argument on one side and the force of authority – the opinions

of the most esteemed authors /writers/, and of individuals whose opinions stood

the highest in my own estimation, on the other, when happening to take up /on

opening without any particular view/ a pamphlet which I had heard ascribed to a

late Secretary of the Treasury on the other, and to open it at a part /the

place/ where the topic of a maximum is touched upon, and the /a number of/

arguments against the measure /on the other side/ held up to view, I was struck

at the same time with the number and variety of them, and with their /the/

inconclusiveness of them /the whole collection/ for such it appeared to me on

the other. And is this all then said I, that there is to say against the

measure? – if so, then as I have all along suspected, the horror in which it has

been held by the best opinions has nothing but prejudice, and {an} /a too

indiscriminate/ attachment to general principles for its foundation /cause/: so

that the leaning which with or without sufficient cause I have now some reason

to entertain in favour of the measure has been confirmed if not altogether

produced by the arguments which in the eyes of the Hon. Gentleman formed a

sufficient ground for reprobating it

Looking upon the observations presented /delivered/ /made/ by the Hon. Gentleman

on that head as containing /constituting/ a pretty compleat index to any such

arguments as might be delivered /urged constructed/ on that side, though to any

view of the matter the arguments themselves

seemed