JB/538/219/002

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Once more, you are a great noodle for not telling me what to say
to people. I see no other method to take but telling them the plain truth
for unless some other reason can be assigned they will impute it to want
of courage. Dr Simmons was here just now, and asked me how it
came about: having no answer ready, I knew no better than to say I
did not know. I do believe I must go and read him that part of your
letter: for he asked, as it was very natural for him to ask, whether
your heart failed you? I should have set to work perhaps to frame a
story if I had not been afraid of it's seeming proving inconsistent with
the account (whatever it might be) which you yourself might give of the
matter. La greffiere just now suggested a very good idea; which was
the giving as a reason your apprehension of offending Q.S.P. — that
you took an opportunity of coming on shore in order to apologise for the going out before and consult with
him and obtaining his leave for returning whether you should return and continue with the fleet as long
as it staid out. But this will not do with Simmons after my having told Simmons
that I did not know the reason: and as it will not do with
Simmons it will not do with any body: for there must be but one story
whatever it be.

I am still at Brompton: there is a deal of gabbling all round
me, and my head is pretiously confused. Shall I tell you now what
I am about? I have been principally employ'd of late upon the Criminal
Code — I have made considerable advances in it. At Birling I wrote
a defence of Suicide in about 30 of my pages, which will go as a note
accounting for my not including Suicide under the denomination and punishment
of murder. One reason for beginning the Code now was the time
being limited for giving it in: it must be at Bern before July next. Another
is that Q.S.P. pricked up his ears at the sound of the 100 Guineas
and seemed to wish me to begin upon it. Another is that I have lately
got a little pamphlet which may be called the last dying words of
Voltaire in which was written expressly upon the occasion of that premium
and for the purpose of encouraging people to become candidates.
It is entitled Prix de la Justice & de l'Humanité. This I look upon
as a fortunate incident: if any thing can draw the attention of the public
abroad, & in particular of the Empress to such a subject, it must be
the last-dying words of Voltaire. He speaks of the difficulté presque insurmontable

Identifier: | JB/538/219/002 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 538.
Date_1	1778-08-13	Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	538	Main Headings
Folio number	219	Info in main headings field
Image	002	Titles
Category	Correspondence	Number of Pages
Recto/Verso		Page Numbering
Penner	Jeremy Bentham	Watermarks
Marginals		Paper Producer
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year
Notes public		ID Number
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