[**104-060**]

1819 Aug. 8

Fallacies 7

4. Sham-distinguisher's device/

This is the converse of the Lumping-Classifiers device. For the purpose of finding a justification for suppressing the suppression of some course of action which upon the whole has more of usefulness than mischeviousness in it, he presents it to you as distinugishable into two courses, one more useful than mischevious, another more mischevious than useful. Admitt this, he then proceeds in his endeavours to suppress the whole, telling you it is only to the mischevious part that his intention and endeavours are directed.

Take for example the liberty of examining into the usefulness or mischeviousness of the several arrangements included under the name of Law, Government, Constitution, &c as above, and the operations performed by the several functionaries in the exercise of their several functions. The liberrty of this examination he will acknowledge to be indisputably necessary to good government: but thou this liberty must be unaccompanied with licentiousness: for licentiousness is as /no less/ hostile to the end in view as /than/ liberty is friendly to it. Whereas between liberty and licentiousness - between the things themselves there is no real distinction: where a mans meaning /[...?]/ is to be considered as friendly to this liberty, liberty is the denomination he employs: where he is /can not but be/ seen to act seen[?] to be in actual hostility hostility disposed towards it licentiousness is the term he employs in speaking of it.