April 1807

Lawyers judged

I begin of course with that paper which [...?] from the highest /superior/ of the two authorities - the only one of the two to which in so far as authority means power can with propriety be said to be an authority - the body of /[...?]/ your highest class of Judges.

The observations contained in it are distributed I observe in 50 articles. The matter contained in them will be found referable to one or other of three heads - 1. Opinions. 2. Facts. 3. Arguments.

The distinction is not an idle one.

As to the opinions - I mean the crude /so far as they are mere/ opinions, one[?] supported either by fact or argument - I state them without hesitation, as not meriting /entitled/ to have any weight with you /exercise any influence on your judgment/.

The facts, subject to some limitation /which will be stated/ possess a title /seem entitled/ to your evidence.

Arguments - taking them independently /abstraction made //considered without reference to abstraction[?]/ of opinion and of the authority of any attached[?]: the source from which the opinion flows - will always possess each of them the proper value that belongs to it. Though /as an opinion/ the opinion should be worth nothing, the argument would not be less deserving of attention. Though the opinion be even[?] so well entitled to attention, it will not give force to an argument which has none.