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LIBEL
Eulogisms true or false on the virtues of the a Sovereign, for the time being are but so many [courtly]
impertinences, when applied to the question concerning the on or continuing to hisduty or
a power more dangerous hazardous in the abuse than advantageous in the use.
unless a Patent conferring on him
immortality can be produced from
.
I would venture to recommend an experiment [to me seems decisive &] which has contributed very much to give my
sentiments on this subject the term theyspoke of have at [this present time] present.—In the midst of my indignation
against for the invectives against on some respected [favourite] character, [our present gracious Sovereign
for example], I have commanded myself so far as to shift that object for out of
& place in it's stead some person of whom my ill opinion was at the highest, a
or a Lauderdale.
the second, for instance, or a Tiberius. Taking in my imagination some of the odious passages of
I have then asked myself, could I, were [I]
upon a Jury, find it in my Heart, to surrender up a man to punishment for printing the
public indignation against such a character — the answer has been, that it was
impossible. The experiment would probably succeed still better with any one, (as before,if instead
of the [] object of the invective he were to place the [detested] author of it himself, or some one else
who figures most in the adverse party. Observing this to be the case
tracked up in the habit of of setting a constant watch, with how little so ever over my prejudices and passions, in the habit of [frigid & anxious] reflection, [I having nothing else better to do] I have
been forced to consider a forteriori that it most commonly be so with men taken hazard at,
from the body of the people out of the various occupations in which[some occupation wherein] such a habit kind of exercise
is neither customary nor requisite.
Note that from the nature of things it must
depend upon favor & affection, upon
vague opinion of characters remote
the observation of those who judge
of them, & that no steady & impartial
decision is ever to be expected.
unless the Rod of power could be induced impregnated
with such a Talismanic virtue, as
to break the instant it were touched
by an unworthy hand.
Anatomists who shew those parts which
we conceive to the whole run of Mortals
as well on a Beggar as a King.
Having not better nor other Head nor Heart
at my command
perhaps they may gain inst ruction
by viewing it with more humility &
less distraction than they could then
of their own the operations of a
machine differing only from their
own in being constructed on a
smaller scale.
Whatsoever faculty should be possessed
by a William or a Geo: 3d to vindicate
calumniated virtue, must be
continued to a Philip or a Tiberius
should such an one arise which is imputable
to Monarchs who might be conscious
favour is more stupefied of those characters
which is not so, to wreak vengeance for
detected infamy.
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Identifier: | JB/070/200/002"JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 70. |
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070 |
of laws in general |
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200 |
scandal libel |
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002 |
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text sheet |
2 |
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recto |
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jeremy bentham |
[[watermarks::j honig & zoonen [lion with vryheyt motif]]] |
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cc1 |
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23315 |
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