[clx. 273]

1822 July 4

Constitut. Code

Factitious dignity /Honor/

?.4. Conferred as usual

mischievous

Conferred not in those cases the evidence afforded of itself in each individual case with the evidence thus afforded

?.4 Conferred in the only manner as yet in general use factitious honor is in its nature in various ways preponderantly mischievous - detrimental and not /rather than/ contributory to the greatest happiness of the greatest number: and in the first place as conferred in a Monarchy. Arbitrarily conferred, factitious honor is pernicious every where

Of The various forms in which it has been conferred in Monarchies a comparative /an analytical/ view has been just given. The cases in which it has thus been given agree all of them in this: namely that they have been given out in a judicial manner: not on the ground of any adequate or determined evidence: Thus given They have therefore little more tendency to be productive of good desert than punishment applied by the same hands, in the same arbitrary manner, would have to be expressive of ill-desert.

Of two things of two matters of fact it must be admitted an act of this sort does afford conclusive evidence: that the individual so honored: 1. that he is in favor with the Monarchy or: 2 that at any rate he is not to such a degree out of favor as that the act /reward in this shape/ being proposed by the functionary in question is not thought fit by the Monarch to be refused.