1819 Aug. 12 ult

o

Fallacies Ch | | Lumping Classifiers

3

2. Exposure.

Dialogue on the Law and a Laws

Tory Anti-Reformist (turning to the Peoplesman /Reformist/ -

Sir, you are an enemy to law!

Whig Reformist. So he is: I am sorry to say it.

Reformist. By law, if a man means any thing, he means the law: and by the law if he means any thing he means the laws: including or not including those imaginary and sham ones which form the contents of Common Law. True and sham together I am a friend to the good ones. I am not a friend but an enemy to the bad ones. Sir, (turning to the Tory AntiReformist) give me leave to ask you, are you a friend for the bad ones? And you, Sir? (turning to the Whig AntiReformist) ...

Tory AntiReformist. Mum.

Whig Anti-Reformist. Friend to the bad ones? No, Sir: nor to the good ones neither: if by law you mean laws, and if by laws you mean real ones, for they are now of them of any use /all useless, if not worse/: as to the sham ones, these indeed I am a friend to : good I know no difference. So as they are but sham ones: for then they are whatever it [...?] good men's convenience they should on each occasion what be: whatever good men would have them to be them, men, for me! give me the men I want, I care not what the laws are: no, nor that the measures, The perfection government consists in governing without laws, understand always real ones. Bad laws are plainly bad: and good laws are either bad or useless. This is my creed: I [...?] it from Earl Grey: he Then; wisdom for you! do but admire the depth of it! I get it from Charles Fox.

/senseless" at every th[...?]that any[?] thing that any man can find /can[?]/ to say against it. - Ask his Lordship else./