1821 Oct. 1.

To Toreno

2 o or 3 o

Letter IV

Religion

Censorship

32

6

6

5

As if for consolation and compensation under these shackles /restraints/, the priesthood are indulged with the satisfaction of imposing a set of restraints /shackles/ on their part on the pens of their adversaries. In Article 233 may be seen a provision, in which it is assumed that by the priestly order—or by a certain class /rank/ of them at least, namely the Episcotal exercise on their part the function of the Censor Licensing Censor. A fine to the amount of from ten to fifty Dollars together with forfeiture of all the copies meaning necessarily all the copies remaining unsold is imposed on him who without licence from the Ecclesiastical Ordinary whoever he be (I should suppose generally speaking the Bishop of the Diocese) or without observing the disposition made in the case in question by the law, shall in Spain through the medium of the press publish any writing which touches upon the Holy Scripture and upon the dogmas of religion: option given it appears not whether to the Judge or to the convict to suffer instead of paying the penalty arresto a species of confinement less afflictive than imprisonment (see Article | |) of from /for/ twenty days to three months.

Thus it is that the exclusive privilege of publishing any thing on the subject of religion is given to the class of men in whom by means of the use they make of it the supporters of the existing /recently established/ and comparatively liberal system behold their most formidable enemies.