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IX.: SOUTH AMERICA. - Jeremy Bentham, The Works of Jeremy Bentham, vol. 4 [1843]

Edition used:

The Works of Jeremy Bentham, published under the Superintendence of his Executor, John Bowring (Edinburgh: William Tait, 1838-1843). 11 vols. Vol. 4.

Part of: The Works of Jeremy Bentham, 11 vols.

About Liberty Fund:

Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.


IX.

SOUTH AMERICA.

1.

Letter from Bernardino Rivadavia to Jeremy Bentham.

Monsieur,

J’ai emporté de votre ville le profond regret de n’avoir pas eu le bonheur de vous trouver visible, lorsque je me rendis à votre maison, afin d’avoir l’honneur de prendre congé de vous. C’est une occasion de m’instruire que le sort m’a ravie, et que je souhaiterois bien reparer, autant que possible, en obtenant quelques mots de réponse à celleci. Jamais le souvenir flatteur des procédés obligeans dont vous avez daigné m’honorer, pendant mon sejour à Londres, ne s’éffacera; et croyez que je saisirais avec bien de l’empressement l’occasion qui s’offrirait de vous en temoigner ma vive reconnaissance.

Depuis le dernier instant que j’eus l’honneur de passer avec vous (il y a plus de dix-huit mois,) je n’ai cessé de méditer vos principes en matière de legislation; et à mon retour ici, j’ai éprouvé une satisfaction bien grande, en voyant les profondes racines qu’ils jettaient, et l’ardeur de mes concitoyens à les adopter. Vous verrez, Monsieur, que le réglement de notre chambre des deputés cijoint, que j’ai eu l’honneur de lui proposer et qu’elle a sanctionné dans une de ses séances, est entièrement basé sur les incontestables et frappantes vérités contenues dans votre ouvrage sur la tactique des assemblées legislatives; et dans la chaire de droit civil que j’ai fait instituer, se professent les principes eternels, démontrés si savamment dans votre cours de legislation (publié par M. Dumont,) ouvrage déstiné à faire marcher à pas de géant la civilisation chez les peuples assez heureux pour savoir l’apprécier.

Vous me ferez le plus sensible plaisir si vous daignez, dans la réponse que j’ai déjà sollicitée de votre bonté, et que j’attends avec une impatience proportionnée au prix que j’y attache, me donner votre avis sur ce même réglement de la chambre, et m’indiquer les changemens, additions, ou modifications qu’il vous parâitrait nécessaire d’y faire. L’amour de l’humanité qui vous anime, me porte à croire que ma prière ne vous semblera point importune, et aussi, que vous ne lirez point sans intrêt, le précis des ameliorations que la nation se glorifie de devoir à l’impulsion que je m’efforce de donner aux choses, guidé par vos sages préceptes. Ainsi donc vous saurez que je me suis appliqué à réformer les anciens abus de toute espèce, qui pouvaient se rencontrer dans l’administration; à empêcher que d’autres ne s’établissent; à donner aux séances de la Chambre des Représentans la dignité qui leur conviennent; à favoriser l’établissement d’une banque nationale sur des bases solides; à réformer, après leur avoir assuré une indemnité juste, les employés civils et militaires qui surchargeoient inutilement l’état; à protéger par des loix repressives la sûreté individuelle; à ordonner et faire exécuter des travaux publics d’une utilité reconnue; à protéger le commerce, les sciences et les arts; à provoquer une loi, sanctionée par la chambre, qui réduit de beaucoup les droits de douane; à provoquer également une réforme ecclésiastique bien necessaire, et que j’ai l’éspérance d’obtenir: en un mot, à faire tous les changemens avantageux que l’espoir de votre honourable approbation, m’a donné la force d’entreprendre, et me fournira celle d’exécuter.

Agréez, Monsieur, l’assurance de ma parfaite estime, et à l’avance, l’hommage de ma reconnaissance, pour la réponse que j’attend de votre bonté.

(Signé) Bernar. Rivadavia.*

(TRANSLATION.)

Sir,

I sincerely regret not having had the pleasure of seeing you, when I called at your house previous to my leaving London, in order to bid you farewell. It would have proved an opportunity of instruction, of which fate has deprived me, and which loss I wish to repair in as far as it is possible, by obtaining a few words of reply to this letter. Never will the flattering marks of kindness which you loaded me with during my stay in London, be effaced from my recollection; and believe me, I shall embrace eagerly every opportunity of showing my lively gratitude.

Since the last moment that I had the honour to pass with you (now more than eighteen months ago,) I have never ceased to meditate on your principles of legislation; and on my return here, I have experienced very great satisfaction in seeing the deep root which they have taken, and the ardour of my fellow-citizens to adopt them. You will observe, Sir, that the annexed regulation of our chamber of deputies, which I had the honour to propose to it, and which it has sanctioned in one of its sittings, is entirely founded on the incontestable and striking truths contained in your work upon the tactics of legislative assemblies; and in the chair of civil law which I have instituted, they profess the eternal principles so learnedly demonstrated in your course of legislation, (published by Mr. Dumont,) a work destined to cause civilization to march with gigantic strides amongst those states that are happy enough to appreciate it.

You will confer upon me the most sensible pleasure, in your reply to this, which I have before solicited, and which I anxiously wait for, with an impatience equal to the high value I attach to it, by giving me your advice respecting this same regulation of the chamber, and to point out to me the changes, additions, or modifications, which you may think proper to make in it. The philanthropy which animates you, induces me to hope my expectations will not seem importunate, and also that you will read with interest the particulars of the amelioration of a nation, who glory in having, through my exertions, received the impulse from your sage precepts. You will also perceive that I have applied myself to reform the ancient abuses of all kinds found in our administration, and to prevent the establishing of others, to give to the sittings of the chamber of representatives the dignity which becomes them; to favour the establishment of a national bank upon a solid basis; to retrench (after having allowed them a just indemnity) those civilians and military who incumber uselessly the state; to protect individual property; to cause to be executed all public works of acknowledged utility; to protect commerce, the sciences, and the arts, to promulgate a law sanctioned by the chamber, which reduces very materially the custom-house duties; to promote equally an ecclesiastical reform, which is very needful, and which I hope to accomplish: in one word, to make all the advantageous alterations which the hope of your approbation has given me the strength to undertake, and will enable me to execute.

Accept, Sir, the assurance of my perfect esteem, and my anticipated gratitude for the reply which I hope from your goodness.

(Signed) Bernar. Rivadavia.

2.

(Copy.)—José del Valle, Guatelama, to Jeremy Bentham.

Señor,

Sus obras le dan el titulo glorioso de legislador del mundo. Los que han sido llamados por sus destinos á formar ó discutir projectos de codigos civiles ó criminales han pedido luces a V.; y yo tengo mas que otros necessidad de ellas.

La Assemblea de este Estado de Guatemala se ha servido nombrarme individuo de la comision que debe formar nuestro codigo civil. Yo he vuelto los ojos a V. y sus dignas obras. Tengo algunas; me faltan otras; y sus pensamientos serian por mi de precio infinito.

Permitame V. le suplique vuelva su atencion á una republica que acaba de nacer, y cuia felicidad me intereza en el grado mas alto. Sirvase comunicarme sus pensamientos. Sabrá apreciarlos quien ofrece á V. los respetos y consideracion con que tengo el honor de ser su mas ato. serv.

Jose del Valle.

A Mr. Jeremias Bentham.

(TRANSLATION.)

Sir,

Your works give you the glorious title of legislator of the world. Those whose lot it has been to be called on to prepare, or to discuss, projects of civil or criminal code, have requested your guidance; I, more than any, feel the want of it.

The Assembly of this State of Guatemala has been pleased to name me a member of the committee for forming our civil code. I turn my eyes to you and your excellent writings: some I have, others I have not; but your thoughts would be of infinite value to me.

Allow me, then, to entreat you will turn your attention to this newly-born republic, whose happiness is of the highest interest to me. Kindly communicate your ideas, which will be duly appreciated by him who offers you all the respect and attention with which, &c. &c.

(Signed) Jose del Valle.

To Mr. Jeremy Bentham.

*∗* In Brazil, a little before the act of despotism, or say the revolution, by which the Emperor dissolved the Cortes, shipping off the supposed democratically disposed members, some to the Peninsula, others to Goa, in Hindostan, Jose Bonifacio d’Andrade, the then prime minister, made no secret of his intentions, on the meeting of the Cortes, to move that application should be made to Mr. Bentham for his assistance in the formation of a code for that state. This intention of his had been twice declared in conversation, with William Effingham Lawrence, Esq., who, in a vessel of his own, touched at Rio Janeiro, in his way to Van Diemen’s Land. This information is contained in a series of highly interesting letters, written from thence by Mr. Lawrence to Mr. Bentham.

These letters, with the two passages to the above effect in them, were seen by several of Mr. Bentham’s friends; but, having been lent out or mislaid, cannot at this moment be recovered. The passages particularly in question were scarcely longer than those here employed in giving intimation of them. But in those same letters there was a great deal more about the cognizance taken of Mr. Bentham’s works by the statesmen in question, and others belonging to different parties.—Ed. of original Edition.

end of volume iv.

[* ]At the recommendation of Mr. Bentham, Mr. Rivadavia sent two of his sons to Messrs. Hill’s school, at Hazlewood, near Birmingham, from which an off-set is just planted at Bruce Castle, near Tottenham; and so well satisfied has Mr. Rivadavia been with the situation of these his sons, that six more pupils have come from that part of late Spanish America, making, in the whole, eight, among whom some others are relations of Mr. Rivadavia.—Ed. of orig. Edit.