JB/091/304/001

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1 March 1808

II. 3. No exclusion of evidence on the ground of interest

The absurdity and iniquity of the exclusion put
on such a multiplicity of pretences upon the light of evidence
is more concisely and impassively demonstrated
by the argument from inconsistency than by and the more direct
course. The subject of evidence coming in here only
by the bye, a few hints though broad ones, are all that
can be allotted to it here:

1. By English jurisprudence lawyers no motive interest, no
motive of any kind is supposed to have be capable of exercising any influence
on mens' conduct – or at least any sinister interest, but
the love of the matter of wealth – commonly called the love
of money. Hence is a being void of all social affections
void of all dissocial affections – indeed with none but
self-regarding ones, and those in respect of the object
confined to money.

2. In the shape of pecuniary interest the only operative interest
that they there is no magnitude of amount but
which their rules with all their pretended strictness are sufficient to extend do not let in,
but many years ago died a Duke – whose annual income was
estimate in the public prints, estimated at £180,000. Had
the whole of it been in one estate, and that estate depending on
the cause, the condition of the heirship to that estate would not
have prevented the only son of that Duke from being examined
as a witness in that cause, either at the instance of his father
or at the instance of a party on the other side.

But supposing the estate intended on the son, though
liable to be taken from him at any time by the operation of legalized
imposture called a recovery, then though instead of the £180,000
a year the estate were
not worth so many
pence once paid, the
evidence testimony would
not at the instance of the
father have been admissible.

Identifier: | JB/091/304/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 91.
Date_1	1808-03-01	Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	091	Main Headings	scotch reform
Folio number	304	Info in main headings field
Image	001	Titles	no exclusion of evidence on the ground of interest
Category	text sheet	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	e1
Penner	jeremy bentham	Watermarks	th 1806
Marginals		Paper Producer	andre morellet
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year	1806
Notes public		ID Number	29300
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