[clxii. 240]

1821 Jany 6

Rid Yourselves

'. Creoles willing

Preliminary Distinctions

What I do not say is that man for man their interests are less an object of regard to me than yours are: I know no reason why they should be: what I do say is - that theirs are not the interests my regard for which gave occasion to the liberty I am thus taking with you.

The connection which their interest has with yours is simply this - namely that in proportion to any aversion on their part to the union will be on your part the difficulty of maintaining it, and the expence of the endeavouring to maintain it.

2. Another distinction which it is necessary for me to thus early to point out to you is a /the/ distinction between two other sets of interests: the two sets of interests into which the aggregate interest of you the people of Spain is divided: I mean the interests of the subject many, and those of the ruling or otherwise influential few. Special connection apart, the degree of my regard is I will confess, determined by the numeration table: if any one will furnish me with a fitter standard, I will be thankful for it.

Now then /This promised/ what I am as well assured of as I am of my existence is that to the subject many - to the vast majority of you the union in question - all union with Ultramaria under the same government - and all endeavours at it would be productive of net mischief in vast quantity

What I am at the same time sensible of is - /that to the interests of/ that to a considerable /no inconsiderable/ portion of the ruling few not only the maintenance of the union, but every endeavour however fruitless towards the maintenance of it would indeed be beneficial: but at the same time that this benefit would neither so extensive nor so net as it is natural it should appear to be: for in addition to this their seperate interest these distinguished few possess their part in the universal interest: in many instances what may happen is that what a man gains in respect of his seperate interest is more than outweighed by what he loses in respect of his share in the universal interest: but as of the two it is always the particular interest that is most distinctly perceived by him hence it is that where that interest which in the mans possession in common with the many is of the two the most valuable to him - it will often in his eyes be the less valuable, and no case of competition be accordingly sacrificed to that which he possesses in common with the many.