24 June 1807

(6)

Letter V

II. Litigation

III. Def t. malâ fide

To the malâ fide defendant combating for the faculty of embezzlement or dissipation at his choice, mesne profit is no object. His plan for enjoyment is not limited by time: his views comprehend the whole of the subject matter: the whole of its value.

But which combating in his own character as above with or without thinking of it, he is combating in the character of the malâ fide defendant, whose object is ultimate success, through the medium of intervening casualties: at any rate, so long as the combat lasts he is giving himself the same chance.