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LIBEL
Elogiams true or false on the virtues of the a Sovereign, for the time being are but so many [courtly]
impertinences, when applied to the question concerning the continuing on or continuing to his delegate
a power more hazardous dangerous in the abuse than advantageous in the use.
unless a Patent conferring on him
immortality can be produced from
Heaven.
I would venture to recommend an experiment which [to me seems decisive &] has contributed very much to give my
sentiments on this subject the turn they have possess at present. [this present time] ———In the midst of my indignation
for
against the invectives on against some [favourite] respected character, [our present gracious Sovereign
for example], I have commanded myself so far as to shift that object for a moment out of view
& place in it's stead some person of whom my ill opinion was at the highest, a a
or a Lauderdale. the second, for instance, or a Tiberius. Taking in my imagination some of the odious passages of I have then asked myself, could I, were [I]
upon a Jury, find it in my Heart, to surrender up a man to punishment for printing the
public indignation against such a character — The answer has been, that it was
impossible. The experiment would probably succeed still better with any one, if (as before instead
of the [favourite] object of the invective he were to place the [detested] author of it himself, or some one else
who figures most in the adverse party. Observing this to be the case with myself
tracked up in the habit of [frigid & anxious] reflection, of setting a constant watch, with how little success so ever over my prejudices and passions [I having nothing else better to do] I have
been forced to consider a fortiori that it most commonly be so with men taken at hazard
from the body of the people out of [some occupation wherein] the various occupations in which such a habit kind of exercise
is neither customary nor requisite.
that from the nature of things it must
depend upon favor & affection, upon
vague opinion of characters remote
from the observation of those who judge
of them, & that no steady & impartial
decision is ever to be expected.
unless the Rod of power could be induced impregnated
with such a Talismanic virtue, as
to break the instant it were touched
by an unworthy hand.
Anatomists who shew those parts which
we conceive to the whole run of Mortals
as well on a Beggar as a King.
Having no better nor other Head nor Heart
at my command
perhaps they may gain instruction
by viewing it with more facility &
less distraction than they could then
of their own the operations of a
machine differing only from their
own in being constructed on a
smaller Scale.
Whatsoever faculty should be possessed
by a William or a Geo: 3d to vindicate
calumniated virtue, must be
continued to a Philip or a Tiberius
should such an one arise which is imputable
to Monarchs in who might be conscious
favour is more stoothed of those characters
which is not so, to wreak vengeance for
detected infamy.
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Identifier: | JB/070/200/002 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 70.
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070 |
of laws in general |
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200 |
scandal libel |
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002 |
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text sheet |
2 |
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recto |
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jeremy bentham |
[[watermarks::j honig & zoonen [lion with vryheyt motif]]] |
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cc1 |
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23315 |
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