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1 Feby 1813
Church
II Topics
Ch. 9. Power in omnis
§.1. Abstract fitness
5
§.1. Abstract fitness
Part VIII. Misch. 6 Obstructing
improvement
13
For Scotch reform
no punishment to the
author except such as
is as secret as that of
Caleb Williams. — He
might spite of offensive
truth have been unpunished
had he not
trusted to the faith
of his most gracious
majesty's government
some 20 years ago.
p.8
14
It being too late for
penal visitation, silence
or invective are the resources.
p.9
15
Should any hint be
dropt of it in the presence
of any "high
character", silence and
lengthened visage are
the first results — name
the object and purport
of it, the storm of unbridled
indignation
breaks out. According
to persons, or occasions,
hatred & contempt are
manifested — visionary
or anarchist applied
to the author — Utopianism,
or Jacobinism to
the work (or the synonyms of which they
have store) p.9
16
In itself, silence is
nothing, invective little,
but to those who have
all to look for from
such high personage,
it is a penalty in comparison
of which, all
pecuniary ones are
light. p.10
17
Whatever is, is right —
this the doctrine of
misrule whenever any
ray of hope shines
forth — Happy is he who
fed by profitable abuse
invents such a phrase
as without charge of
imbecility he may be
supposed to satisfy himself
with. — What is
the use of the H of Commons? to check the
Crown — What use of the Kings influence
& the H of Lords to check the Commons & to balance
power. What the use of Bench of Bishops? to
take care of the Church? — What of the Church? — to take care of Bishops
§.1. Abstract fitness
Part VIII. Misch. 6 Obstructing
improvement
18
What is the pursuit
most separated from
the science of government
& tending most
to ignorance of it?
— Poetry — What the
art which meets with
the most natural encouragement?
— Poetry.
What art the practice
of which delights most?
Poetry.
19
Poetry accordingly the
pursuit on which by
the abhorrers of
useful truths factitious
encouragement
is heaped.
§.1. Abstract fitness
Part VIII. Misch. 6 Obstructing
improvement
1
So degenerate the
times, no peremptory
bar can be opposed
no obstruction but
what is indirect — &
that not by open power
but by influence. p.12
2.
In the Bishops order
is the only considerable
power in clerical
hands. Yet even at
the death of his Chancellor,
he could not
punish the most
offensive and useful
author. — Nor even
move in the House
of Lords with much
prospect of success
for law to prevent the
press from meddling
with such & such subjects
— All that is
done, must be by
influence. p.12
3
Ex. gr. a sectary invents
unexampled
facilities for acquisition
of knowledge, — offers
them to all persuasions.
This tree of knowledge
of good and evil cannot
be attacked &
cut down (such the
wickedness of the times)
but it may be over-
shadowed by a rival
system which permits
knowledge to those
alone who will be
drenched witho established
trash. When
the original tree is
withered, the evil tree
may be left to its fate.
p.13.
Part VIII. Misch. 6 Obstructing
improvement
4
After the adverse
reign of William 3d
the church was at it's
zenith, & bid fair to
flourish on the ruins
of all liberty. The
convocation had
called on power to
stop impious books
i.e. all that attack
them. But with Anne
the convocation fell
for ever, the Brunswick
princes taking
care not to revive it,
and if with an instrument
so fit for all
work — an obsequious
parliament — any
demand for this could
present itself, it would
be too late satisfied.
p.14
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Identifier: | JB/006/095/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 6.
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1813-02-01 |
13-19, 1-4 |
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006 |
church of englandism |
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095 |
church |
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001 |
abstract fitness / mischief / obstructing improvement |
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marginal summary sheet |
1 |
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recto |
e5 |
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walter coulson |
<…> co |
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a. levy |
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2828 |
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