19 November 1821

Codification Proposal

J.B. to People

Proposals, from the same hand in the main to the same effect as the present one have --- for above these --- been not only forwarded to divers Governments, but ----- ---- put into general circulation. These /Those/ being already in existence a question that will naturally occurr /present itself/ is from what causes and to what end can they in this way be renewed(?) /could the substance //--------// of them come to be repeated/. For affording satisfaction to any such question, a few words it has been thought may be of use.

By ---- of the acceptance /notice/ which in that same publication is shown to have been the ---- ---- of the Proposals therein contained though compleat /effective/ acceptance failed to be the result a certain degree of encouragement was afforded: the documents in /by/ which that ------ stands expressed form so many testimonials in favour of the proposal itself and the individual by which it was made. Still ---- the force of the encouragement was not found sufficient to engage him to enter upon the work. The particular offer /--- --- ---/ at that time made to different constituted authorities ---- ---- followed by the like offers more or less ---- made to other(?). At length by all these encouragements taken together a sort of stimulus(?) has been produced sufficient /such as/ to produce a determination to enter upon the work.

Such being the case in question at present to be answered is - why instead of the work itself, /retard the execution of the work itself, by drawing up more --- and/ --- --- for the second time a set of proposals for the writing of it?