If an overwhelming mass of selfism did not paralyze every improvement, how easily and how soon all this might be done. By making elections simple, candidates would be spared the expense of a canvass7, and drunkenness and the base, wicked effects consequent thereon might be avoided. This business through the whole kingdom might be done in a few days, by summoning the electors (as soon as the candidates were nominated) to attend at the several polling places, to vote by ballot8 or otherwise as might be determined9. The public should only be addressed through the medium of the newspapers. What a real honour would it be to be thus elected! What a saving of expense! What can any gentleman, after spending thousands in the present mode, say for himself? Does he expect to be repaid, somehow or other, by the nation? or, has he lavished10 away such sums for the “honour of the thing,” and thus robbed his own family by wasteful11 expenditure12?
While sentiments of patriotism13 were entertained in our country,—clouded, indeed, by fears of an opposite tendency, as noticed before,—the attention of all was drawn14 aside to view the confederacy of despots directed to shackle15 the understandings of mankind, and to keep them in slavery and degradation16. Would any man in his senses, in the present enlightened state of the civilized17 world, have thought this possible? And yet, as a finish, they have called it the “Holy Alliance.” My most fervent18 prayer is, that no king of the British Isles19 will ever keep such company; but that our sovereigns will ever stand firm, uncontaminated by the infectious effluvia of arbitrary power, upon this proud ground—this soil fitly tilled, but only wanting some weeding to render it perfectly20 ready to produce a rich crop of liberty.
Most men were beginning to hope that emperors and kings had discovered that, if the people were not enlightened, it was high time for them to use their kingly influence to make them so; and that it is far safer and better, as well as more honourable21, to preside over an intelligent people, than to govern men brought down to the level of unreasoning brutes22. The wretchedly bigoted23, and consequently oppressed, people of Spain will, no doubt, see things in their true light at some future day, and free their fine country from misrule. The times in which Galileo lived have passed away, but we still see the same kind of despotism and superstition24 ready as ever to burn such men alive, and to strew25 their ashes in the wind. The affairs of mankind, managed in this way, will be likely at no distant period to put such kings and their priests out of fashion. Superstition makes despots and tyrants26 of all the sovereigns whom it influences: they become the confirmed enemies of knowledge. The die is then cast. Superstition never did, nor ever will, listen to reason; for credulity is the offspring of ignorance, and superstition is the child of credulity; and this breed is nursed and kept up by despotism, as its mainstay and darling. The sun of reason may be clouded for a time. As long as falsehood in the garb27 of truth continues to lead the great mass of mankind, so long will they struggle in vain to attain28 the paths which lead to perfection and happiness.
“We should always repute it as our business in the world—the end and purpose of our being—our duty to our kind—the natural use of the powers we enjoy—and the suitable testimony29 of gratitude30 to our Maker31, to contribute something to the general good—to the common fund of happiness to our species.”[34] Benevolent32 and patriotic33 sentiments of this kind ought always to be kept up, and the mite34 of the humblest individual ought to be received and acknowledged: the reveries of such ought not to pass without being coolly examined by men of experience. I well remember my name having been set down as that of a person who would, without hesitation35, become a member of a society in Newcastle, “for the suppression of vice36.” To this I decidedly objected, and told my well-meaning neighbour,[35] who named the matter to me, that I thought the magistrates37 were quite competent to manage that business; but that I would have no hesitation in joining their society if they would change their plan, and make it “a society for promoting and rewarding virtue38.” I have often thought since that, if such a society as the latter—to be called “The Society of Honour”—were established in every parish, it might, if well managed, do great good. The society ought not to annoy any one, by being over officious, nor to meddle39 otherwise than by quietly, and yet publicly, rewarding, or expressing the good opinion they entertain of the conduct of the person honoured.
Another society of a very different character to the last-named is at this time winked40 at in this land of liberty. I mean the present great and mighty41 Inquisition, held under the denomination42 of “the Constitutional Association.” These men—the secret admirers of “The Holy Alliance”—may more properly be called the suppressors and dreaders of truth. Acting43, indeed, under the mask of advocating the cause of religion and liberty, but in reality in lurking44 enmity to the latter, and to all free enquiry and investigation45, they have arrogated46 to themselves the power of punishing a man for his unbiased opinions, even on subjects which do not militate against good morals, or against the happiness of society; thus taking the power out of the hands of the national authorities, as if they were unfit and insufficient47 to do their duty. A House of Commons ought to see this with indignation, and this self-erected Inquisition, instead of ruining parties by their prosecutions48, should be invited to answer truth with truth, as well as they can; leaving the world to judge how it stands between them and their opponents.
When men break through laws, made with care for the good government of the community, they ought, as at present, to forfeit49 their liberty, and in some cases their lives. It is a pity that those who have betrayed the innocent, and robbed the fatherless children and widows, cannot be sent to live with savages50, and to have their backs tattooed51 with hieroglyphics52, expressive53 of their crimes.
It has often been a matter of surprise, in the circle of my friends, that criminals are not transported to the West Indies, there to undergo a purgation till they have redeemed54 their characters, in which case they should be allowed to return home. It has also appeared to us that the law is defective56, in not, somehow or other, protecting such men after being released from prison. Some association should be formed—some friends to them and to humanity might be invited forth57 to pass their word, for a time, for their good behaviour, to prevent their being thus cast friendless upon an unforgiving and censorious world; for it matters not how fervently58 a man may wish to redeem55 his character, no one will employ him, and he is thereby59 driven to the necessity of flying to some villainous scheme to enable him to live.
It is painful to speak about punishments to be inflicted60 upon one’s unfortunate fellow men: it is equally so to contemplate61 their self-degradation. But, when it is considered what a voluminous mass of laws we have, neither understood nor explained, we cannot wonder that they are broken; they are so multifarious and complex, that, as to the illiterate62 description of persons they are meant to keep in order, they are almost useless. An abridgement of the laws of England would perhaps fill fifty folio volumes. These laws, at the time they were made, might be good and proper, but most of them are now inapplicable and obsolete63. To amend64 them seems impossible, and an act to amend or explain an act, by adding confusion to confusion, is truly farcical. It is a pity that the whole of them cannot be abolished at once, and short and clear new ones substituted in their stead. As they stand at present, few men can understand them, and to men of plain, good sense, or of ordinary capacities, they appear altogether a great mass of unintelligible65 matter, or a complete “riddle-me-ree.” This may, indeed, be intended or winked at; for it gives employment to a great number of men of the law, of all kinds of character, from the basest up to others who are ornaments66 to their country. Indeed, were it not for the latter description, the rest would not be endurable. They are more to be dreaded67 than highwaymen and housebreakers, and as such are viewed by the thinking part of the community; but the former find employment from clients of their own character, who trust to them for their ability in twisting, evading68, and explaining the law away.
In passing through life, it has fortunately been my lot to have been intimate with both military and naval69 gentlemen, as well as with those of the learned professions; and, though several of each class have stood high in the estimation of the world, for their gentlemanly manners and unsullied worth—to which I may be allowed to add my testimony, as well as to acknowledge the debt of gratitude I owe some of them for their kindness and attention—yet, on taking a comparative survey of the whole, I cannot help giving a preference to medical men; for, besides their learning and attainments70 in common with other professions, they appear to me, generally, to be further removed from prejudice, more enlightened, and more liberal in their sentiments than the other labourers in the vineyards of science and literature.
点击收听单词发音
1 suffrage | |
n.投票,选举权,参政权 | |
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2 functionary | |
n.官员;公职人员 | |
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3 entrusted | |
v.委托,托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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4 franchise | |
n.特许,特权,专营权,特许权 | |
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5 probity | |
n.刚直;廉洁,正直 | |
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6 remarkable | |
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的 | |
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7 canvass | |
v.招徕顾客,兜售;游说;详细检查,讨论 | |
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8 ballot | |
n.(不记名)投票,投票总数,投票权;vi.投票 | |
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9 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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10 lavished | |
v.过分给予,滥施( lavish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11 wasteful | |
adj.(造成)浪费的,挥霍的 | |
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12 expenditure | |
n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出;使用,消耗 | |
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13 patriotism | |
n.爱国精神,爱国心,爱国主义 | |
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14 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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15 shackle | |
n.桎梏,束缚物;v.加桎梏,加枷锁,束缚 | |
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16 degradation | |
n.降级;低落;退化;陵削;降解;衰变 | |
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17 civilized | |
a.有教养的,文雅的 | |
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18 fervent | |
adj.热的,热烈的,热情的 | |
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19 isles | |
岛( isle的名词复数 ) | |
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20 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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21 honourable | |
adj.可敬的;荣誉的,光荣的 | |
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22 brutes | |
兽( brute的名词复数 ); 畜生; 残酷无情的人; 兽性 | |
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23 bigoted | |
adj.固执己见的,心胸狭窄的 | |
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24 superstition | |
n.迷信,迷信行为 | |
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25 strew | |
vt.撒;使散落;撒在…上,散布于 | |
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26 tyrants | |
专制统治者( tyrant的名词复数 ); 暴君似的人; (古希腊的)僭主; 严酷的事物 | |
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27 garb | |
n.服装,装束 | |
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28 attain | |
vt.达到,获得,完成 | |
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29 testimony | |
n.证词;见证,证明 | |
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30 gratitude | |
adj.感激,感谢 | |
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31 maker | |
n.制造者,制造商 | |
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32 benevolent | |
adj.仁慈的,乐善好施的 | |
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33 patriotic | |
adj.爱国的,有爱国心的 | |
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34 mite | |
n.极小的东西;小铜币 | |
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35 hesitation | |
n.犹豫,踌躇 | |
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36 vice | |
n.坏事;恶习;[pl.]台钳,老虎钳;adj.副的 | |
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37 magistrates | |
地方法官,治安官( magistrate的名词复数 ) | |
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38 virtue | |
n.德行,美德;贞操;优点;功效,效力 | |
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39 meddle | |
v.干预,干涉,插手 | |
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40 winked | |
v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 );递眼色(表示友好或高兴等);(指光)闪烁;闪亮 | |
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41 mighty | |
adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
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42 denomination | |
n.命名,取名,(度量衡、货币等的)单位 | |
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43 acting | |
n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的 | |
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44 lurking | |
潜在 | |
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45 investigation | |
n.调查,调查研究 | |
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46 arrogated | |
v.冒称,妄取( arrogate的过去式和过去分词 );没来由地把…归属(于) | |
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47 insufficient | |
adj.(for,of)不足的,不够的 | |
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48 prosecutions | |
起诉( prosecution的名词复数 ); 原告; 实施; 从事 | |
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49 forfeit | |
vt.丧失;n.罚金,罚款,没收物 | |
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50 savages | |
未开化的人,野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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51 tattooed | |
v.刺青,文身( tattoo的过去式和过去分词 );连续有节奏地敲击;作连续有节奏的敲击 | |
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52 hieroglyphics | |
n.pl.象形文字 | |
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53 expressive | |
adj.表现的,表达…的,富于表情的 | |
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54 redeemed | |
adj. 可赎回的,可救赎的 动词redeem的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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55 redeem | |
v.买回,赎回,挽回,恢复,履行(诺言等) | |
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56 defective | |
adj.有毛病的,有问题的,有瑕疵的 | |
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57 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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58 fervently | |
adv.热烈地,热情地,强烈地 | |
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59 thereby | |
adv.因此,从而 | |
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60 inflicted | |
把…强加给,使承受,遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61 contemplate | |
vt.盘算,计议;周密考虑;注视,凝视 | |
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62 illiterate | |
adj.文盲的;无知的;n.文盲 | |
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63 obsolete | |
adj.已废弃的,过时的 | |
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64 amend | |
vt.修改,修订,改进;n.[pl.]赔罪,赔偿 | |
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65 unintelligible | |
adj.无法了解的,难解的,莫明其妙的 | |
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66 ornaments | |
n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 );点缀;装饰品;首饰v.装饰,点缀,美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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67 dreaded | |
adj.令人畏惧的;害怕的v.害怕,恐惧,担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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68 evading | |
逃避( evade的现在分词 ); 避开; 回避; 想不出 | |
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69 naval | |
adj.海军的,军舰的,船的 | |
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70 attainments | |
成就,造诣; 获得( attainment的名词复数 ); 达到; 造诣; 成就 | |
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