[lxxxiv. 108]

1822 Jany 20

Codification Offer

ult¼o

?.5. Admission Universal

Members unapt

By sinister interest understand every particular interest by which, it being opposite to the interest of that is detrimental to the greatest happiness of the greatest number a man is led /prompted/ to sacrifice to it that universal /all comprehensive/ interest.

Such sacrifice may be termed the sinister sacrifice

By prejudice understand erroneous prepossession: prepossession in the case where it is regarded as errroneous

Not in this only but in the succeeding sections will these explanations be found to have their use.

It is in sinister interest that the relative inaptitude which corresponds to appropriate moral aptitude has its cause.

It is in interest©begotten prejudice, original weakness and authority©begotten prejudice that that modification of relative inaptitude which corresponds to appropriate judgement has its cause.

Interest©begotten prejudice, though by the supposition it would not have had existence but for sinister interest, may where it does exist be in any proportion more mischievous in a proportion to any amount greater, contributing to the sinister sacrifice than sinister interest itself. For /To/ the number of persons capable of being sharers /partakers/ in /infected with/ the sinister interest there are certain limits: to the number of those capable of adopting /taking up/ and retaining the interest©begotten prejudice there are no limits: 2. by a change of circumstances the particular interest in question may cease to operate in the direction and character of a sinister interest: it may operate in the opposite direction and thus become a right and proper interest: whereas prejudice when once formed may continue to any length of time inflexible, contributing so long as it has place to the sinister sacrifice. Notorious are the instances in which by thousands and ten thousands by prejudice in its various forms /modes/ men have been led to sacrifice each of them his own unquestionable interest while contributing to the sacrifice of the universal interest at the altar of monarchical and aristocratical despotism[?].