Bowring, vol. X, p

6. « On doit me permettre, écrivait Bentham-Dumont dans son Traité de l'influence des temps et des lieux en matière de législation, les fictions les plus présomptueuses. Je vais m'arroger le pouvoir suprême. Je commence, en vertu de cette autorisation plénière, à donner à l'Angleterre ce système de lois que je n'avais fait jusqu’à présent qu'offrir à la discussion des philosophes. Après cela, sans m'arrêter dans mes conquêtes législatives, je vais chercher, sur le globe entier, un pays où je puisse établir mes institutions. Prendrai-je la Chine ?... Sera-ce le Canada ?... Tout bien pesé, je donne la préférence au Bengale : là tout diffère, climat, mœurs, langage, religion; c'est un autre monde, et je ne pouvais trouver un exemple plus riche en instruction, un contraste plus évident et plus propre au développement de tous les principes qu'on doit suivre dans la transplantation des lois. » — Cf. James Mill, British India, book I, chapter I (éd. Wilson, vol. I, pp. 2-3) : The subject forms an entire, and highly interesting, portion of the British History; and it is hardly possible that the matter should have been brought together, for the first time, without being instructive, how unskilfully soever the task may have been performed. If the success corresponded with the wishes of the author, he would throw light upon a state of society, curious, and commonly misunderstood ; upon the history of society, which in the compass of his work presents itself in almost all its stages and all its shapes ; upon the principles of legislation, in which he has so many important experiments to describe ; and upon interests of his country, of which, to a great degree, his countrymen have remained in ignorance, while prejudice usurped the prerogatives of understanding. — Cf. Book II, chap. x (vol. Il, pp. 152-153). — [l convient de noter que Bentham avait toujours été obsédé par l’idée de légiférer pour. les Indes. V. Bowring, vol X, p. 292 : Bentham à Dundas, 20 mai 1793. Something in the way of legislation may be deemed wanting for Hindostan. Diverted of all local prejudices, but not the less sensible of their force, and of the necessity of respecting them, I could with the same facility turn my hand to the concerns of that distant country, as to those of the parish in which I live.

LA NAISSANCE DU RADICALISME

1. 1 y eut en Angleterre des « Panopticiens » avant qu'il y eût des « Benthamites », des « Utilitaires », des « Radicaux Philosophiques ». Notamment le docteur Parr. V. Bowring, vol. X, p. 403: Romilly à Bentham, 18 fév. 1803: Dear Bentham, — I wish you would dine with me on Tues-

day next at five o'clock, and meet your profound admirer and universal panegyrist, Dr. Parr. The first thing he said to me the other day when I met him in the street was, that he hoped I was a Panoptician; and the second, that he had had a lorïg conversation about you with Charles Fox; so that you may see that he has formed a party for you — has given it a name, — and is canvassing for the ablest recruits to it.

2. Bowring, vol. X, p.458: Bentham à Mulford, 4er nov. 1810 : now at length, when I am just ready to drop into the grave... — Bowring, vol. X, p. 250 : I do not like to look among Panopticon papers. It is like opening a drawer where devils are locked up — it is breaking into a haunted house. (Propos de Bentham recueilli par Bowring). — Vol. XI, p. 103: Never does the current of my thought alight upon the Panopticon and its fate, but my heart sinks within me (écrit en 1830-1831).

3. Bowring, vol. XI, pp. 116-117 : Bentham à George Rose, 23 fév. 1798.

4. Bowring, vol. XI, p. 139 : Bentham à Charles Abbot, 3 sept. 1802.

5. Panopticon versus New South Wales : or, the Panopticon Penitentiary System, and the Penal Colonization System, compared. In a Letter addressed to the Right Honourable lord Pelham; Bowring, vol. IV, pp. 173 sqq.

6. A Plea for the Constitution : Showing the enormities committed, to the oppression of British subjects, innocent as well as guilty ; in breach of Magna Charta, the Petition of Right, the Habeas Corpus Act., and the Bill of Rights. As likewise of the several Transportation Acts, in and by the Design, Foundation and Government of the Penal Colony of New South Wales : including an Inquiry into the Right of the Crown to Legislate without Parliament in Trinidad, and other British Colonies; Bowring, vol. IV, pp. 249 sqq.