[clxiv. 219]

1820 July 4

Emancipation Spanish

ult o

?.8. Corruptive influence

Corruption without Corrupter

Continue Either a King or [...? ...?] much more both will suffice to bring you under power coercive power

Q. To corruption, action needless: situation sufficient. Examples.

Of this instrument of mischief the most striking /curious/ /mysterious/ as well as mischievous /efficient/ property is - that it operates and works without need of a hand to move it. Situation, mere situation a still and silent relation between cause and effect between human /moral/ means and human /moral/ motives - suffices for the production of the effect. Before me lies an external instrument of felicity - a lucrative office a mass of power - an ensign of factitious dignity:- from /in/ the very nature of the case without need of any body to inform me of it, I see that if I pursue a certain line of conduct I shall thereby give to myself a more or less considerable probability of obtaining it: if I pursue the opposite line, then am I sure I shall not have. As yet what there is /is stated as being/ in the case is but /simply/ influence. The line of conduct by which alone I can hope to obtain this object of desire is of such a sort by the pursuing of which mischief will be done to the universal interest: no matter: it will be beneficial to my own private interest: I therefore pursue it notwithstanding