[114-028v]

1821 May 11

Codification Offer

'. Draughtsman gratuitous /'.10. Offer/

By the above considerations alone - all of them deduced from the observation of the influence of the reward in question on the goodness of the service it is employed for the extraction of - by the above sober considerations alone, and not by any unreflecting sentimentalism has the veto thus put upon reward been produced. To the value of money the author is no less sensible, than those are who for the procurement of it are so ready to consign men by thousands to speedy death by fire and sword, and to lingering death by famine. With unfeigned gratitude he would accordingly, supposing the work compleated, accept from willing donors individually and separately, contributing, money from each to any amount from the lowest denomination of coin to the greatest sum which any individual could take pleasure in thus disposing of. Not a ribbon of the number of those which are worn about men's shoulders - not a ribbon of that sort, of any colour, from any hand, would he refuse bowing for it being previously understood, that in his opinion the greatest happiness of the greatest number would be much the more effectually promoted were all such ribbons dragged through the kennel in the lump and then burnt by the hands of the common hangman, than by being bestowed in requital of the most meritorious service for which reward in this shape was ever granted. Only in so far as those, at whose instance it would have been bestowed would be otherwise than desirous to see it thus bestowed, does aversion to reward in any shape maintain a place in his mind.