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30 2 Annuity Notes
In this point of view the secret masks which
appear to have been more or less relied
on, are essentially inadequate: and even the more
so, the greater the subtlety of the contrivance.]
In these the aim is — that they shall escape
the eye of a person having in contemplation the
commission of this crime: that, not being having been observed
in the original they shall thus fail of being
inserted in the counterfeit copy, the variance of
which with reference to the original shall thus be
detected: But if the variance escape the observation
of one whose life is at stake upon the discovery,
much more certainly will this be the case
with the ignorant and incurious multitude. Detection
is their only aim: prevention by far
the more desirable object is abandoned lost sight of altogether.
If Had the varia original any features in it of such
a nature that a variance would be as much
exposed to the observation of individuals in general,
as to that of a person especially employ'd on purpose commissioned for
the purpose, both points intentions would be accomplished answered
at once: prevention for the in the instance of
the greater number of those who might otherwise
be disposed to make the attempt; detection in the
instance of this or that desperate offender, should any such ever arise, whose
madness temerity may have shut his eyes against
the hazard of the enterprize.