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you once had an idea of publishing something against the punishing of deptors by
imprisonment [against imprisonment for dept] It would be short & sweet written
in a popular tones style and be nearer on a level with the capacity of people in general
than your greatest works. Something of this kind would be exceedingly good to give
people in general and especially such indolent and superficial people as are in
this part of the world a high opinion of Code &c. You must not think that
there are 5 people here nor one of whose approbation would be of any importance
much less that the Empress herself would read so great a work as these. If however
they were to read such a little piece as this which I have mentioned and liked it
they would they procure Code or any other greater work put in
in their study look at one page or two and praise it to the skies.
Dept is punished in the same way here and the mischevious effects of it are
rendered still greater by the constant abuses in the mode of procedure.
The deptor is arrested by an application of the Creditor to the Magistracy before the
dept is proved. If I do not give you myself an account of the policy here my
friend Porter will give it you when you become acquainted. He is not yet got to
England there were letters from him today from Amsterdam.
Yes Believe me I was really in earnest in what I told wrote to you to the
disadvantage of this country and of its not being likely for you to do anything
in it. It is not however impossible but what if you chose it you might be
employed in an honourable and advantageous manner, but it must be much more
by intriguing than by mere merit. You would neither be able or inclined to pursue
this intriguing for any length of time. A man disposed to do his duty would not be
supported here in any character whatever. Tis true that in the drawing up of general
laws before they come to be put in practise you might not meet with such difficulties; but I
very much hope that you will not entertain any idea of being employed in any way in the execution of
them. You still rite to me about translation into German. I am sure it would be much better
1780 ) S.B. Petersburgh
Dec ) J.B. Linc. Inn
2 )
21 Nov O.S
Code. Business
Sheet 3
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Identifier: | JB/539/113/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 539.
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1780-12-02 |
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539 |
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113 |
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001 |
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Correspondence |
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Samuel Bentham |
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