[clx. 364]

1822 July 8

Constitut. Code

[...?] for the sake of the references.

Securities

Public Opinion Tribunal

Aristocratical Section notions

Aristocratical Section of the Public Opinion Tribunal Its Notions (a)

1 All sincerity and regard to veracity is treated as ridiculous

2 All regard to Frugality in the expenditure of public money treated as ridiculous Per Under Secretary Wilmot idea of lessening expence of Official Salaries by competition scouted under the name of Dutch Auction. Morn Chron 8 July 1822

3. The sufferings of the lower orders regarded as the subjects and [...?] of contempt "Revered and raptured Ogden" Canning Morn. Chron. 16 July 1822. [...?] by [...? ...?]

4. Pastimes on a Sunday irreprehensible on the part of the rich /higher orders/: reprehensible on the part of the lower orders. Vice-Society etc. v. Bamber, acquittal. Charles Philips for defce. June 1822

7. Gaming irreprehensible on the part of the higher orders: reprehensible on the part of the lower orders only

8. Gaming debts preferred to debts to Tradesmen.

9. Facility of Swindling by obtaining credit and raising sums on the appearance of wealth in a shape protected against Creditors not maintained against all attempts to abolish it

10. Swindling by obtaining and converting to a mans own use articles of property on the pretence of employing it in government service

11. All idea of reform treated as ridiculous

12. The idea that the happiness of the many ought not to be sacrificed to the happiness of the few treated as ridiculous: contempt is due to every man who entertains it or professes to entertain it.

Aristocratical Section of the Public Opinion Tribunal. Its Notions continued

13. The quantity of esteem and respect a man is justly entitled to is as the elevation of the place he occupies in the conjunct scales of opulence political power and factitious dignity

14. Property is either itself merit, or the foundation of merit, or if not when it is unaccompanied by merit gives a man a more indisputable title to regard to respect and favor than can be given to him by merit without property

15. Property i.e. the matter of wealth in large masses is the only substantial and justifiable foundation for power, insomuch that he who has most property ought for that reason to have most power - and in a word the quantity of power a man possesses ought to be in exact proportion to the quantity of property he possesses

16. That in like manner as to factitious honor the quantity a man possesses ought to be as the quantity of property and power taken together which he possesses

17 That accordingly and for example in England, property to a certain amount gives him a just claim to a [...?]: and this whatsoever may have been his endeavour on the ground of morality and politics

Note (a)

(a) These notions will be conformable to those points by which things as they are in the English Government are /stand/ distinguished from Things as they ought to be. Matter for this head may therefore be sought for in matter under that head, morals excepted.

[...? ...? ...?] New Times and John Bull