13 Jan y 1817

Necessity Cat

1 Theory

§.4. Probity how securable

3

Q. 3. You mean in other words /the word which one finds in the current phrases/ that in the instance of each of them it shall be his interest to do his duty or his interest shall coincide with his duty.

A. Yes: take these phrases, either or both of them as you please.

Q. 4. Good: but under every form of government does not every man’s interest /the interest of every member/ coincide with his duty: or to speak more fully and clearly in the instance of every member of the governing body every possessor of the supreme power or a portion of it does not the line of conduct prescribed /pointed/ to him by his interest coincide with the line of conduct prescribed to him by his official duty? Exists there any such official person /office-bearer/ who possesses not a share in the universal interest - a share as great as any that can be possessed by any other member of the community? If not, where are the elements of which in any state the universal interest is composed?

A. Yes doubtless: but then over and above /in addition/ to this /such/ his share the social, the universal the social interest, every man /the public/ has a self-regarding a personal a private interest of his own, which is distinct and separate and distinct from that universal interest, and that /since[?]/ his share in the universal interest, that it is liable continually liable to be adverse and opposite and adverse with relation, and so effectually and practically opposite, as to lead /engage/ him to /to prescribe to him and engage him to/ act in a course diametrically opposite to that which is or would be prescribed to him by his duty - i.e. by his share in the universal interest: a course which taking for his proper course that which is prescribed to him by his duty, and which he is […?] to act in by his share in the universal interest, may well be termed a sinister one /course/: and the interest which noses[?] him on in it, a sinister interest.