nd [wm 1816]

Factitious dignities

Government at 70

Factitious dignities

Their Origin

2

2

§ - Origin or factitious dignities. By one of those associations in which the commonly prevailing opinions have their cause and their defect ideas such as those expressed by the words virtue and merit stand attached in mens minds to the ideas designated by the word dignity when applied to political situations and considered as produced and conferred by the hand /by the will/ of the Monarch. Dignity is from the latin dignus[?] english, worthy: Worthy ie being held in honor - Of being taken for an object of respect by all the other members of the community. Ask what the source or efficient cause is of the title which a man has to this respect the answer will be either as it consists simply in public merit ie in meritorious public service or else that it consists in power, or in a word in power and merit taken together. Ask again whether power not only is but ought to be an efficient cause of such respect the answer will probably be - no, not simply when considered in its own account: yes when considered on account of the meritorious service presumed to be and considered as being rendered by the due exercise of the power in question whatever it may be.

Upon examination little less than completely unfounded in historical truth will every such notion be found to be.

Go back to the norman conquests - for it w d be useless to go beyond it no such thing as dignity existing in a separate state uncombined with power will you find. No power will you find but what was associated with military rank.

{Earls, Barons, Knights, Esquires […?] Baronets}

The design which brought William the Conqueror into this island - William the founder of the reigning dynasty was a design of usurpation and depredation. Immediately under him came a small number of chieftains under the name of Earls under them a not much larger number by the name of Barrons; under them again to the number of a very few thousand men by the name of