1821 Oct. 27

To Toreno

3 o

Letter VII Religion

§. Positions on priestly influence

3

3

10. When at the same time a government is continuing[?] to priestly influence when in a state of hostility to itself a vast body of support in the way of reward, it is curious to observe it occupied at the same time in defending itself against hostility on the part of the power thus supported and for such its defence employing the power of punishment. It is by misapplication of the matter of reward that misapplication of the matter of punishment is rendered necessary. Do away both reward and punishment, every thing is peace and tranquillity.

11. When for some time after the substitution of limited and representative to absolute Monarchy If by means of the matter of corruption, inseparable from the existence of Monarchy, in a limited representative Monarchy, the other rulers are occupied in conjunction or not in conjunction in corrupting the representatives of the people the other rulers for the promotion of their separate and sinister interest are using their endeavours to suppress /for the suppression of/ public discussion, during this state of things the opposition /hostility/ of the priestly code to the old government may in an indirect way be of use to the people: namely by strengthening the dependence of the government upon the people: the people behold in these enemies of its /their/ causes[?] a sort of temporary friends. But this sort of service, is rendered not by but against the good will of those by whom it is rendered. And it can never be any other than short lived as well as temporary. When through despair of seeing the restoration of the old Government, the body in question submitts to and enters[?] such confederacy with the rulers of the new Government, its effects on the greatest happiness of the greatest number become purely mischievous.