5 July 1805

Evidence

Introd. Jursiprudent

Ch. II. Vices

Inanity of Jurisprudence, considered as a science - matter not of true honour, of how as it ought to be - /but of shame./

Science of legislation, yes. But as to science of law - of jurisprudence, of law as it is, to any man who considers it with reference to the true /legitimate/ ends of law /government/, far from being an object of boast /glory/, of admiration, it can never present itself in any other light than that of grief and shame.

It is a science formed by fools and by imposture, and preserved by negligence.

In proportion as legislation advances, jurisprudence gives way and vanished /disappears/ like an unclean spirit under the wand of the magician, it vanishes at the touch of the septre.

To what circumstance is this wretched perversion of language indebted for the name and what it has of the properties of science?

Jurisprudence what has it of the properties of science? - difficulty. This difficulty what is the effect of it? to render this part of the language so much the more unfit /less suitable/ to the purposes of language. And what the cause on the part of those who made it what it is what is the cause? Imposture or imbecility: there is no other alternative.

A science which begins in vice or pity and /has vice and foolishness for the root, and knows misery/ ends in misery! A science, for the fruit of it which in proportion as men do their duty, vanishers /shrinks and gives way/; and while as soon as men have done at any time what is in their power at all times, as soon men have prevailed upon premonition[?] to treat their fellow creatures as men, instead of treating men like dogs - will have vanished altogether.

At this time of day what men of common sense and common honestly would not spurn /reject/ /willingly be through/ with indignation the imputation of being thought to value himself as his /the/ being an adept in judicial astrology? /alchemy or the flash language?/