[lxxxiv. 180]

1822 Feb. 15

Codification Offer

? 5

V

2.

Corruptionists Emblems

One thing the Monarchists of both descriptions /classes/ © the rod©of©iron men and the corruptionists are agreed upon © this is that the Monarch whoever he is is most excellent. Most excellent © in what? in regard for the greatest happiness of the greatest number? No: neither of this have they ventured any of them to assure us. The contrary would have been too palpable: not regard but disregard for that object is on the part of that man of all others at once sure and conspicuous: demonstrated by the very /unchangeable/ nature of man demonstrated by all history and all experience

On this occasion [...?] of argument has drawn the corruptionists into a self©contradiction which the rod©of©iron men have had no need to hamper themselves with. Most excellent? If so, in which of the three branches or elements of appropriate aptitude? aptitude with relation to the ever unspecified end. Is it the moral branch. O yes © though the contrary as above stands demonstrated that they will of course stickle for the Corruptionists as well as the rod©of©iron men. But here the two divisions split. In /Ask them how it is with their idol in/ respect of appropriate intellectual aptitude and appropriate active talent their /the/ answer is © not only not above par, but below it: below it, and to a degree which places /stations/ him in at least as low a level as that of a child in leading strings. Is there so much as a single act that he is capable of doing so much as a single determination that he is capable of taking by the guidance of his own judgment? Oh no: nothing can the great baby ever do but under the direction of some /his/ dry nurse. Oh but the great baby may turn off his dry nurses and choose new /fresh/ ones as often as it /he/ pleases: and if the baby has soiled /it has happened to the great baby to soil/ his sheets, the cast off dry©nurse may be made to pay for it.

This supposition, howsoever exaggerated, has more of truth in it than most of their other principles. But what would be said of that man who for the management of his own affairs, of of the affairs of any individual for whom he had any regard should choose an agent, who, in his opinion, was thus deficient?