16 Jan y 1817

Necessity Cat

1 Theory

§.7. 1. Monarchy 2 Intellect

3. active talent

1

Alexander writes well speaks well meddles with /spoils/ every thing.

§.7. I. Monarchy - how far appropriate intellectual aptitude and appropriate active talent are reasonably to be expected in it.

Question 1 Thus much as to the article of appropriate probity: now as to the other two elements of aptitude intellectual aptitude and active talent: for untill some special reason recurr for separating them, so nearly /closely/ are they allied /connected/ there may be a […?] privilege it should seem in considering them together: and to begin of course with the Monarch himself. What say you in this instance to their endowments - in the situation in question in what degree ought we to expect to se them possessed.

A. Before I attempt any direct answer to this question, I must propose for your consideration a distinction among Monarchs. I mean by those who have been bred in the school of {adversity and} difficulty for example the Ex-Emperor Napoleon, Frederic the Great of Prussia and our own William the third, or if it be your pleasure to go so far back, our own {King} Alfred, and those who have been bred in the ordinary way in that school of luxury and idleness which is situated immediately under the throne. This first group I mention for the purpose of laying them out of the account: for it is evident that in respect of the endowments in question their characters were formed before they became aggregated to the class of Monarchs. Therefore whatsoever it may happen to me to say of Monarchs in relation to either of these points you will consider them as not to be meant to be comprized[?] in it: and in regard to them let it appear /be/ ever so manifestly inapplicable, the inapplicability will not afford /operate as/ any objection so long as it has in place in regard to that ordinary class of /in/ which by far the greater number have been contained.

Between these extremes, by substracting more or less of the difficulty, i.e. of the demand for exertion, you may form to yourself an intermediate class /group/ or any number of groupes, should any occasion for so doing, which is more than I should expect to present itself.