JB/064/107/001

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1827 Dec. 16
Liberty of the Press

At. 1. Reasons

12
Plea – Sub-rulers galled
By no such accusation
can the suffering
of any functionaries functionary as
such be rendered greater
than the enjoyment;
proof, his not giving
it up

13
All complaints of intolerable
suffering from
such a source are impossible
to be true;
they are virtual confessions
of inaptitude.

14
Aptitude self-trumpted
Confidence claimed
To him who trumpets
forth his own aptitude
even though it be but
in respect of probity
if it be without the endeavour
to destroy
the liberty in question,
the proper answer is
a laugh; if with a hiss<

15
Aptitude self-trumpted
Confidence claimed
Such being the only one
is always the course
taken by him whose
guilt is so manifest
as to render other
defence impossible.

16
Aptitude self-trumpted
Confidence claimed
Words to the effect cost
no more than an
equal number of many
others: a good actor
who on the stage
shd pronounce them
well wd deserve applause:
a functionary
on a government theatre
laugh or hiss as
above.

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Art. 1. Reasons

17.
The desire of preventing
all such imputation
government
unprovided with
the means of defending
its reputation
when unjustly attached,
a gross absurdity.

18
From the publicity of
of the accusation government
into
an opportunity of defending
itself or it
even the accusation
conversed privately
from hand to
hand.

Plea. Sub rulers galled
19.
Such private accusations
are more likely
to be exagerated
than public ones: being
sharpened by the
sense of oppression
and exempt from the
check of shame.

20.
Under the restriction
on no harm
that can befall the reputation
of a public
man can be unmerited
unless he has done
his utmost to remove
it.

21.
Under the liberty in
question the never having
been thus accused
is the to government and
every functionary circumstantial
evidence
& next to conclusive
of an unimpeachable
aptitude.

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Art. 1. Reasons

22.
The opposite restriction
proof of general
and habitual inaptitude.

14. Plea (for the suppression)
expressly or implicitly employed.
1. Depravity (corruption)of non-rulers.
2. All perfection of rulers.
3. Sensibility proportioned
to that all-perfection,
nicest sense of honour &c

16.
I. Depravity of non-rulers
1. They are not so depraved
as rulers: they had not
impunity to work them
to it and support them
in it.

17
2. What depravity they
have is the fault of the
rulers fiz.
1. By omitting to supply
them with good instruction
2. By supplying them
with bad instruction
Ex. gr. By forcing them
to say and endeavouring
to force them to believe
than whoever is King,
is by 1. be his conduct
what it may, most
gracious and most religious
2. The Clergy such as
altogether to compose an
Excellent Auricle

18
II. All-perfection of rulers
☞ See above
III. Sensibility proportioned
to the pretended all-perfection. But
1. The reverse is the truth,
the more guilt the greater the
fear of accusation. The pretence
of sensibility is an
issue of delinquency

19. The Suffering of rulers
under accusation, were it
really ever so intense could be

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7. Only on the supposition
of all-perfection in the rulers
can such a suppression
be vindicated as not
mischievous innoxious

8. Gone on that supposition
it is needless: for not
even the , much
less can a good the best government
ever be in want of defenders.

17. in the wholeness
of the matter of reward at their
disposal is a for
defence.

9. The presumption the suppression
proceeds is on
1. All-perfection on the part
of the rulers
2. All p Depravity (corruption)
on the part of the people

10. But instead of being
more apt in respect of
political probity than a man at
large a member of the government
is essentially less
apt: viz. by the certainty
he possesses of impunity.

11. So would he even
without that certainty
the higher he is raised
by wealth and power
and dignity, the higher
he is above the having
knowledge of their exigencies
or sympathy with their
sufferings.

12. The same man who
without means or ,
applies death for the prevention
of misconduct on
non-rulers will not submitt
to him so much as a
complaint from non-rulers.

13. Yet when non-rulers
can do mischief only upon
a limited and comparatively
minute scale, rulers may and
do upon an unlimited scale.

Identifier: | JB/064/107/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 64.
Date_1	1817-12-16	Marginal Summary Numbering	12-22
Box	064	Main Headings	Liberty of the Press
Folio number	107	Info in main headings field	Liberty of the Press
Image	001	Titles	Art. I Reasons
Category	Marginal summary sheet	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	D2 / E2
Penner		Watermarks	<…> Co
Marginals		Paper Producer	A. Levy
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year
Notes public		ID Number	20461
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