10 July 1807

20

Letter V

II. Litigat. promot.

Remember that in every recourse[?] ought to be your constant study - to blur [...?] eyes of the people and to corrupt their heads[?] as effectively as possible: a more favourable occasion can not present itself.

It is impossible for you to abstain altogether from taking all such operations without exception as common sense and common honesty point out as necessary for the furtherance of justice: all you can do is to do what depends upon yourselves, towards destroying their efficacy. So far as concerns common Bail you will encourage sham Bail. Imprisonment you can not avoid subjecting a man to, besides that it is necessary to you for other purposes: what you have to do, and it is all you can do, is so to order matters that it shall not be employed to the compelling the prisoner to give up other people's property: and that it shall be employed to the keeping him where he is to spend what money he can raise that you may have your pickings out of it.

Take care that whatever property of other people's he may have in his hands, those who are most dear to him may upon his death enjoy the benefit of it. Remember that the more flagrant the iniquity, the more splendid and triumphant the display you make of your power. When a Guardian in this way makes himself rich, leaving his ward penniless (if a female and she goes upon the town so much the better) this is a proud day for you.

Take care that in each instance whether or no and how far it shall be in a man's power to practice cheating with success shall not be too plain: on this occasion as on all others it will be your care to involve in the question as much to the highest degree of complication as possible. Take care that in each case the {practice of decision and consequent rule of law shall} be as repugnant to human reason and consequently as unconjecturable, as possible: a man's body for example being of no use but as means of coming[?] at his money, meaning other people's money in his possession take care that whoever takes a debtors body shall get neither that nor any thing else: but instead of receiving any thing from him, the man shall be at the expence of keeping him.