Editor’s NoteEditor’s Note3049To the Greek Legislature13-20 February 1824 (Aet 75–6)

Jeremy Bentham to the Legislative Council of Greece.

Legislators of regenerated Greece!

Whether for the sort of encouragement, with which you have been pleased to honor me,² any such praise is due as that of discernment, it pg 350belongs to the world at large, not to him who is the object of it to pronounce.

Of the magnanimity manifested by an address of this complexion, to a man whose position is so completely destitute of every thing which to ordinary minds could render him an object of such notice.

To a man from whom no service can possibly have been looked for in any shape but that in which a small particle of it has already been so richly remunerated there can be but one opinion, such is the honour your body has conferred on itself and by nothing more that I could say could any addition be made to it—

To the illustration shed on me, has been added the more singular one of its being delivered by the hand of the very person by whose signature in his character of President of your body it was authenticated,³ a man whose warrant I have already for calling him by the endearing name of son. Orlando (said I to him—t'other clay in french) thus and thus only can I address you, Monsieur Orlando? my lips close against the words.

Monsieur Solon, Monsieur Pericles, Monsieur Epaminondas, Monsieur Philopoemen?⁴ Who ever heard any such barbarisms? Let me but call you father (was the answer) call me what you please.

Κύριος‎⁵ Bentham indeed?—Legislators! to others as may be most fitting: to me as you love me no more common as is the word there is a glare of legitimacy upon it, that hurts my eyes. Δοῦλος‎⁶ Oh yes, should you again speak to me, add but Ημέτερος‎ to it, or as you now say μας‎⁷ and if so it please you Εκλεκτὸς‎⁸ this I have already merited; this if from you, pg 351would be my most honourable title. Yes if to do so, be in the power of labour, no hired servant ever merited it better, unless by the pleasure so intimately combined with it, the merit as in the eyes of certain casuists, it would be annihilated.⁹

The pleasure is of the number of those which so far from fading are continually on the increase. How should it fail to be so? Seventy years ago I devoted myself to the service of mankind. And now at length (for by you am I enabled) now at length, nor yet altogether without prospect of success, do I behold myself occupied in the performance of this vow.

This will be delivered to you by the worthy comrade of our Luriottes— Edward Blaquiere, by whom his title of ϕιλελληνικώτατος‎¹⁰ as given to him in yours to me¹¹ continues to be so well merited, but this superlative, superlative as it is, admits (I hope) of sharers, so at least you must acknowledge, or you will have been sowing the seeds of jealousy between two of the most faithful of your servants.

Farewell Legislators! may success ever attend your labours in the Council, as it has done those of your heroes in the field, should any modern Xerxes dare to obstruct them may his fate be that of the ancient one.¹²

Already in writing thus to you, I have perhaps written too much. I resume the pen that was writing for you what remains is to subscribe myself, and with somewhat more truth than is common in such subscriptions.

                              Your Δοῦλος Καθιερώτατος‎.¹³