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As it is designed that all men should be governed by the Law;
& those only can be governed by it who know it: & of them only
they that understand it: the universal intelligibility of the
Law is just as important a consideration as any other that
belongs to it. The Stile language of them therefore should be levelled
to the meanest understanding: both by reason of the number
of those who come within the description; & by reason of their situation
which renders them most exposed to those temptations
which it is for the Law to combat: & their turn of mind grossness of the mental form, poverty of moral Ideas which
makes them less susceptible of the influence of moral consideration restraints
which stand instead of Law to those who are under
their influence.
But the language best suited to the meanest understanding
is far from being the language of the meanest mouths: and
a man of a cultivated and understanding untainted with verbal
pedantry, will upon a given occasion make himself much better
understood to a plough-man, than two plough-men would
make themselves understood to one another. The task of investigating
the maximum of comprehensive simplicity is one
of the most difficult that can happen to the lot of man,
since the maximum of comprehensive simplicity is but one
but the ways in which it may be violated are without number:
and it is Grammarian & the Metaphysician
are necessary assistants to the Legislator.
A standing plan uniformly observed in the composition of Statutes –
would be of use, even tho' it were a bad one: for thus, he that should know
one Statute would in certain respects, and to a certain degree
know all.
Such is the ability in method, independent of that of the composition
to which it is applied.
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Voluminousnessis of itself a poison to Perspicuity. Propositions,
however perspicuous by themselves, may become unintelligible
by dint of accumulation: like certain liquors
which tho' of themselves of the purest transparency, are
render'd turbid and opake by mixture.
Thus it is, that the connection being so intimate between
Perspicuity & Brevity, it is scarce possible to give them
a separate consideration – The Subject in which it is endevered
to introduce them by excluding their oppositions to is
the same: the rules to be followed for the compassing their
introduction are often undistinguishable. Their Sympathies
& antipathies for the most part are in common.
As there are however a few [things] being which though adversary to
Perspicuity are not immediately, tho' ultimately they are
to Brevity it may not be improper under this Title to give
them a separate consideration.
Ultimately they are, for suppose a word in frequent use
distorted from it's familiar and popular, to a technical
signification, here is a wound given immediately to
Perspicuity; and as it is also to Brevity through the
other's sides; from the necessity which such a practise induces
of multiplied explanations – you must be warned perpetually
by Law as Catholics are by their Religion not to believe
your eyes; and for all this, words, & a multitude of
words are necessary.
COMPOS.
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