1818 Aug. 29

Essay Essay 4

IX Punishment with[?] deserts

1

1. Applicabil[?] to political 2. to private morals

Essay. I /III/. On ridicule considered as a test of truth.

Essay II /IV/. On Blasphemy.

Essay III /I/ On Merit and Meritorious service.

Essay IV /II/. On desert as applied to punishment

Essay On Desert as applied to punishment.

Desert may with propriety, be applied to reward: it can not without impropriety, be applied to punishment. This is the pursuance which gave birth to the present Essay: this is the pursuance which it is the purpose and endeavour of the present /this same/ Essay to communicate to impress upon the minds of readers.

Were the impropriety a mere verbal one, no such pains as will be necessary to prove it such will the author have ever thought it worth his while. The impropriety is indeed as will be shewn a verbal one - but from this verbal impropriety has sprung impropriety in action, and to such an extent that in every country upon earth the entire fabric /frame/ of penal law has been corrupted and perverted by it.