[lxxxiv. 164]

1822 Feb. 13

Codification Offer.

Appendix or Separate

?.5

Members Unapt

V.I. Reasons against close mode

2. Sinister interest unbridled

II. Reasons against the close mode continued.

Reason 2. Under the close mode rulers' sinister interest unbridled

By a mans right and proper interest understand every interest which is promoted /advanced/, without the /a more than equivalent/ sacrifice of that of other men /the other members of the community/ taken in the aggregate: and thereby the greatest happiness of the greatest number encreased

By a mans sinister interest understand that every interest by the advancement of which that of the other members of the community, taken in the aggregate, is decreased to a greater amount.

Every member of the Community has a share in the universal interest in the aggregate of all the interests of all the members this share is a right and proper interest: by the force of this interest he is led to promote the universal interest to the most degree possible with the least sacrifice possible of the interests of any other of its members.

But by a propensity that has place universally in human nature every man is led to seek /pursue/ the advancement of his own interest notwithstanding any sacrifice which by pursuit /endeavour/ may be made of any other interest how great soever may be the amount of such sacrifice, in other words in every human breast there exists a propensity to make on all occasions the sinister sacrifice; in so far as he regards himself as capable of making it without ultimate prejudice to his own interest to a preponderant amount.

With few or no /very few if any/ exceptions every man yields to this propensity in all or almost all occasions throughout the general course and [...?] of his life. If all men or almost every man, then all men, or almost every man by whom any portion of political power in any shape is possessed