4 Oct 1803

Evidence

Judicature

Anonymous

Of the institution modified as here proposed, the true character is not severity, but lenity: the natural effect - not punishment, but prevention without punishment.

To confine to delinquents /the guilty/, or rather to those who but for the /this/ warning might have become guilty the terror/ apprehension/ it is calculated inspire, and at the same time to secure it against the unpopularity /adverse[?]/ to which not altogether without just case it would otherwise be exposed, an additional notification would require to be subjourned[?]. This is - that the only use that would ever be made of any evidence of this stamp would be that of making it serve as a clue to unexceptionable evidence to an intercourse with the anonymous informer, if on the assurance of the requisite attention and conditional severity, In [...?] to present himself for examination before the compulsory[?] eye, if not, to a search after any such other unexceptionable evidence as the anonymous information may have pointed out. To this might be added that as often as it should happen that any general importations or intimation[?] to the prejudice of any individual character should be added or substituted to any such specific indications, all such unsupported charges would /might/ be seen of being treated with tempted[?] disregard.

When the anonymous letter was presented to Alexander as he was about to take the prescribed medicine in the [...?]. Alexander upon receiving the anonymous letter by which an intimation was given that poison had been infused into the cup of medicine that would be presented to him by Philip his physician, inquired no further but drank off the draught before the physicians face. This has probably being quoted more than once as an example of the treatment which by a truly magnanimous sovereign would be shewn upon information of this stamp. But the magnaminity displayed by this hero was displayed at his own personal risk: the magnaminity displayed by an official superior who should refuse to pay regard to an anonymous address indicating incriminative[?] evidence against one of his subordinates would be displayed at the risk of the public, and to the accommodation of his own indolence. How can the personal behaviour of every subordinate in positions and [...?] office, be supposed to be a jurist as well [...?] to the [...?] and candour who presides in it as that of a <...> physician out materials be he the monarch from whom be it scarcely.