JB/141/114/004

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8

Infamy

old-womanish aphorism† † mocking the discernment of the people, degrading the dignity of the Legislature [aphorism of old-womanish
sagacity] which itself up and disgrace the preambles
of our Statute-books. "Whereas it has
been found inconvenient ... Whereas great
mischief have arising ... as if it were endurable
that a Legislator should prohibit a practise
which he did not think "inconvenient", which he
did not think "mischievous", and as if without
his saying it as much, the people would not give him
credit for wishing that it might be believed he
thought it [so] such. It will one day be acknowledged
that the Legislator as well as not less than the Poet should either say something
or be silent.[a] It will be acknowledged; and
the Statute-book will shrink into a tenth part
of its present space bulk.

The reasons be which employ'd be which above Of what sort then should the reasons be which the Legislator
should ought to employ to back and justify an epithet
of reproach? They should be such as may serve to
point out indicate the particular way in which it is conceived
the practise in question is thought liable to do mischief;
and thereby by that means point out the analogy there is
between that practise, and those others⊞ ⊞ other practises, more obviously but perhaps not more intensely mischievous, to which the
people are already prepared disposed to annex their disapprobation.
The Such reasons, If reasons are to be given, should
be simple and significant that they may instruct,
energetic

NOTES.

[a] Boileau: Art Poet: Et mon vers, bien ou mal, dit toujours quelque chose.

Identifier: | JB/141/114/004 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 141.
Date_1		Marginal Summary Numbering	not numbered
Box	141	Main Headings	rationale of punishment
Folio number	114	Info in main headings field	infamy
Image	004	Titles	notes
Category	text sheet	Number of Pages	4
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	f5 / f6 / f7 / f8
Penner	jeremy bentham	Watermarks	[[watermarks::l v g propatria [britannia motif]]]
Marginals	jeremy bentham	Paper Producer	caroline vernon
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year
Notes public		ID Number	48331
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