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ADVERTISEMENT. - Jeremy Bentham, The Works of Jeremy Bentham, vol. 5 (Scotch Reform, Real Property, Codification Petitions) [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. 5.

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

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ADVERTISEMENT.

In the state in which it is here seen, this tract was printed anno 1813. In the summer of the year 1813, in passing through the University of Oxford (in which seat of learning, above half a century ago, the author had taken the last of two degrees,) by the hands of a common friend he caused to be delivered into the hands of one of the Reverend the Heads of Houses, who had been mentioned to him as being of the number of those, in whose instance the hydrophobia of innovation was supposed to be least rabid, a copy of this tract; and staid there long enough to hear of its having undergone his perusal. Of the communication thus made, the motive was—a hope, how small soever, that possibly, by means of the representation thus conveyed, some course might, in that seat of professed piety, be taken, for the abolition of a practice, which, not to profane only, but to reverend and orthodox eyes, had already, in more instances than one, presented itself, and had accordingly in print, and in multitudes of editions, been held up to view, as impious.

Whatever other imputations the publication of this tract may be thought to be open to, precipitation therefore will at any rate not be of the number: neither on the one part precipitation,—nor on the other part, want of notice.

After all, this tract might for any further length of time have slept upon the shelf, but for the addition so lately made of the scourge of religious persecution to the yoke of despotism:—for a pretence for punishment as for blasphemy—and that by imprisonment without trial (infliction by every clergyman who is in the commission of the peace) the so recently instituted practice of putting the composition of nobody knows what “miserable sinners,” who triumphed over piety and sincerity about two centuries and a half ago, upon a level with the discourses of Jesus; and, by men by whom the profession of piety has been converted into an instrument of power, the exertions so lately made, to bolster up by the force of their punishments the imbecility of their arguments.

What is here meant is not unknown to Mr. Wilberforce. Of the perjury which, so long as he has had eyes to see, has been staring him in the face, let him disprove the impiety, or stand forth at length, and use his endeavours to put an end to it.