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Subject Area: Political Theory
Subject Area: Law

Bentham to Sir Francis Baring. - 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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Bentham to Sir Francis Baring.

“Queen’s Square Place,
27th December, 1799.

“My dear Sir,—

I cannot let slip a post without expressing my gratitude for the trouble you have so kindly and so promptly taken in furnishing me with the valuable information I have just received.

“Apropos—have you heard—Yes, you must have heard—of Mr I don’t know who’s plan, for producing a circulating medium of ‘Stock-Notes,’ which were to be—and not to be—a mortgage of stock? By means of a common friend, he applied to me repeatedly and pressingly for my opinion of his plan. To enable me to form one, I wrote him a letter, asking him for the form and tenor of one of his proposed Stock-Notes, with reasons stating why I could not do without it—no answer: nor though I applied repeatedly and pressingly, could I get back my letter, which, I said at the time, I should want back, not having preserved a copy of it. Meantime, it appeared to me, that, whatever sort of a thing his Stock-Note might be, it was impossible the plan should do: and I drew up a letter accordingly, which, without announcing the result of it, I let him know, through our friend, that I had in readiness for him, and would send immediately on his returning me the first. That I might have no bias on my mind, I would not know who he was, nor do I to this moment: Romilly knows, and was going to tell me, but I stopped his mouth.

“As these things are work to your humble servant, though play to you, it has come into my head this moment to bore you with the said second letter, for the chance of taking the benefit of your opinion on the subject, and learning whether my own are fortunate enough to stand confirmed by yours, and to receive any correction which you may have the charity to give me.

“Read, or unread, as you have time and appetite, do me the favour to return it within a week; and though it should be waste paper, do not treat it as such, since the replacing it would cost me more trouble than I can spare. I am, &c.”