[...?] 1807

+ 1

Omitt a [...?]

Letter V

Resolut. 1.2.3.4.

[...?] of the Court

As to the benefit force and virtue of competition, once more, I am no more disposed to undervalue than to deny it. Yet, in the case in question, what there is of good /benefit/ in it, it is in individual responsibility that, if I do not instate unconscious matter it will be found to depend[?]. What is it that is to be the subject of the competition? Honour? /So it[?]/ who /So it/ shall get most honour?

Honour hangs in the air, till it find some single head to pitch upon. Punishment? who shall stand [...?] of it? No need of competition on that ground. Reproach? Evil repute[?]? nor than neither. The /By/ probity is [...?] of A., /Court A./ the numbers of Court B. will neither be made the more punishable nor the more unpunishable, the more not the less respected. / It depends on [...?] publicity which [...?] avoids[?]/

If then neither nor blame can be the subject of compeition at all, nor praise but with /without/ the help of individual responsibility, what is it that can! One thing, my Lord, and one thing only, viz. money. Though good and evil repute is almost a matter of monopoly in the hands of the Chief, yet money it is true may in each of the two competing Courts be divisible in any propositions, using any number of Judges that can be desired.