18 Apr. 1808

Letter V

Ch. Competition

' Proposed [...?]

2. Commrs & Volunteers

Eldon [...?] ability & willingness [...?????] doubtful limits [...???]

II Competition the 2 d: competition as between the Commissionerss and volunteers.

In this case the inquisitorial function is of course out of the question: suggestion of regulations with reasons in the field to which the competition is confined.

To The Commissioners, all retribution at the expence of the public will of course be allowed /made/, according to universal practice. their number were it only for this reason will be confined within narrow limits. Open the door to improsed[?] volunteers, the number of the parties /competitors/ to the competition will be susceptible of an indefinite increase, and the probability is that among them a degree of aptitude may be found superior[?] to any that may be manifested /will display itself/ by the chosen few.

Of the Commissions the number will be a limited one: say half a dozen, little more or less. For these chosen few, retribution will I take for granted be allowed at the expense of the public, according to universal practice. Volunteers present a number without limit: all contributors; all competitors with one another and with the Commissioners.

When money is attached to employment, what a man is sure to like /it is certain that a man likes/ is the money, what he is not sure to like is the employment /task/.

When money is attached to employment, what it is certain a man is fit for, is receiving the money; what it is not certain that he is fit for is executing the task.

When no money, nor other extraneous reward is attached to the employment, and a man accepts of it notwithstanding. what is not certain is that he is fit for it; but what is certain is that he likes it. and a man's having a relish /liking to/ for an employment affords of itself no inconsiderable presumption of his being fit for it and if two men[?], the one liking the employment the other not, the first is surely cateris paribus, likely to be the most fit for it.