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Subject Area: Political Theory
Subject Area: Law

Beaumetz to Bentham. - Jeremy Bentham, The Works of Jeremy Bentham, vol. 10 (Memoirs Part I and Correspondence) [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. 10.

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

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Beaumetz to Bentham.

(Translation.)

“I am going, my dear fellow-citizen, to try to establish at Paris the difference which exists between the character of a travelling citizen, and that of an emigrant which I detest, and which I cannot consent to accept even from an unjust law—some persons assure me I shall be hanged as a form of explanation—others tell me the contrary. I am going to see how matters are. I regret quitting England, and particularly regret the loss of that intercourse which you had promised me, and for which I had prepared myself by the study of your writings. I assure you it is a real pain—a pain of the heart, to leave a country where I have met with so much goodness, and where I have found nothing but what attached me to it. Nobody treated me better than you,—and there was nobody I desired to see so much as you,—and there is nobody I quit with so much regret as you—while, in my project of another visit to England your are reckoned for much. Assure me, then, that my presence will not be unwelcome. And accept the assurance of all the sentiments with which you have inspired me, and which I devote you with all the frankness of a good republican.”

On the 5th November, Romilly says:

“Chapelier, Beaumetz, and Montmorency all set out yesterday for Paris, thinking it better to expose their lives to Marat, and Marat’s friends, than to incur perpetual banishment and confiscation of their property.”

Benjamin Vaughan writes this lively note on the 8th November:—

“The English citizen V. to the French citizen B.; alias, the city mouse to the court mouse.

“You and your company are certainly more of a treat than your good dinners, (though so very good.) But till Mr M. comes to town, I am obliged to keep an eye to our kittens in —; who are always frolicking when the mouse is absent: consequently, it is more convenient to me to see you, than to be seen by you. Name your day, with your brother and Cn. Ry., (omitting Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday,) and give me the earliest notice.

“My young architect is named Alexander: his residence, Weston Street, Tooley Street. I know not who is the mayor, or who the committee, at Rochester; but any navy or Kent people will inform you. The bridge is not to be rebuilt, but only widened, and perhaps the two middle arches thrown into one.

“I shall leave to the other citizen Russe, to go to Portsmouth, and bring back knowledge, on condition that he tells it all when he returns. The papers on this subject will be returned to-morrow.

‘Vale et me ama.’ ”

In a note of Dumont, (23d November,) he concludes thus:—

“Adieu! I quit Bentham for Bentham, and am occupied this morning with a chapter that enchants me.”

The intercourse between Bentham and Mr Law,* had its origin in the correspondence which follows:—

[* ] Thomas Law, brother to Edward, afterwards Lord Ellenborough. He had been a member of the Council of Revenue in Fort-William, and published, in 1792, “A Sketch of some late arrangements, with a View of the rising Resources in Bengal.”