1823 Feb. 9. 1¼o Not employed but employable or consultable

Greek Constitution

Principles

1. Self regard predominant

J.B.'s Observations

Introductory Remarks

To find the provisional Greek Constitution in so high a degree conformable to the principle of the greatest happiness of the greatest number has been matter of considerable and no less agreable surprize to me

In the examination of it a matter /truth/ which should never for a single moment be lost sight of is the universal prevalence and predominance of the propensity to self preference in human nature

So far from this propensity /universality/ being matter of doubt, it will on consideration be found that the existence of it is indispensably essential to the existence of the species: and that supposing it taken away the species would within a few months not to say weeks vanish from the face of the earth

If this be correct So far then from being a subject of well grounded denial, it is not so much as the subject of well©grounded regret, unless the existence of the species were itself a subject of well©grounded regret.

It is by its excess therefore and not by its existence that by this self©preference harm is done

Included in this self©preference is a propensity and this a constant one on the part of each individual to sacrifice to his own self©regarding interests all other interests put together.

In the case of a public functionary this sacrifice may without impropriety receive for shortness the denomination of the sinister sacrifice

Sinister propensity likely to be less strong in Greece than in Spain etc: [...?...?] being still greater: [...?...?] of [...?] still stronger