14 Oct r 1809

Parl y Reform

B.II. Influence

Ch.1. Explanations

'.3. Influence on will

4

In whichever way the prospect of /or receipt of evil or good/ operates, whether in the way of intimidation or allurement, whether by fear or hope, by evil or good, it operates in most or at least in many, cases, by means of some distinguishable matter, considered as the efficient cause of the evil or the good expected, and characterizable by the appellation of the matter of evil, or the matter of good. This matter, is sometimes a real, sometimes a fictitious entity: a real entity, as money, any other moveable object of property, land or any other immoveable subject of property, viz in respect of the property of /thereof/, or any less extensive valuable interest, therein: a fictitious entity, as a pension {or a lucrative office} considered as a source of money, or a lucrative office, considered in the same character: an efficient cause of respect such as a title of honour, personal or laudatory, an efficient cause of respect and power together personal or laudatory as before; such as under the English constitution, a bishopric, a peerage.

One and the same portion of matter, according to the disposition made of it, becomes the matter of good or the matter of evil. Thus to any given amount, and that in both cases the same amount, money where taken from a man without his consent, becomes thereby in relation to that man the matter of evil; when given to him, the matter of good: and in general whatsoever be it a real be it a fictitious entity, whatsoever being given to a man - conferred on him as in some cases the phrase is - is with reference to him the matter of good, being taken from him, becomes with reference to the same person the matter of evil.