登陆注册
5406800000231

第231章 FRANCIS BACON(31)

But, says Mr.Montagu, these presents "were made openly and with the greatest publicity." This would indeed be a strong argument in favour of Bacon.But we deny the fact.In one, and one only, of the cases in which Bacon was accused of corruptly receiving gifts, does he appear to have received a gift publicly.This was in a matter depending between the Company of Apothecaries and the Company of Grocers.Bacon, in his Confession, insisted strongly on the circumstance that he had on this occasion taken a present publicly, as a proof that he had not taken it corruptly.Is it not clear that, if he had taken the presents mentioned in the other charges in the same public manner, he would have dwelt on this point in his answer to those charges? The fact that he insists so strongly on the publicity of one particular present is of itself sufficient to prove that the other presents were not publicly taken.Why he took this present publicly and the rest secretly, is evident.He on that occasion acted openly, because he was acting honestly.He was not on that occasion sitting judicially.He was called in to effect an amicable arrangement between two parties.Both were satisfied with his decision.Both joined in making him a present in return for his trouble.Whether it was quite delicate in a man of his rank to accept a present under such circumstances, may be questioned.But there is no ground in this case for accusing him of corruption.

Unhappily, the very circumstances which prove him to have been innocent in this case prove him to have been guilty on the other charges.Once, and once only, he alleges that he received a present publicly.The natural inference is that in all the other cases mentioned in the articles against him he received presents secretly.When we examine the single case in which he alleges that he received a present publicly, we find that it is also the single case in which there was no gross impropriety in his receiving a present.Is it then possible to doubt that his reason for not receiving other presents in as public a manner was that he knew that it was wrong to receive them?

One argument still remains, plausible in appearance, but admitting of easy and complete refutation.The two chief complainants, Aubrey and Egerton, had both made presents to the Chancellor.But he had decided against them both.Therefore, he had not received those presents as bribes."The complaints of his accusers were," says Mr.Montagu, "not that the gratuities had, but that they had not influenced Bacon's judgment, as he had decided against them."The truth is, that it is precisely in this way that an extensive system of corruption is generally detected.A person who, by a bribe, has procured a decree in his favour, is by no means likely to come forward of his own accord as an accuser.He is content.

He has his quid pro quo.He is not impelled either by interested or by vindictive motives to bring the transaction before the public.On the contrary, he has almost as strong motives for holding his tongue as the judge himself can have.But when a judge practises corruption, as we fear that Bacon practised it, on a large scale, and has many agents looking out in different quarters for prey, it will sometimes happen that he will be bribed on both sides.It will sometimes happen that he will receive money from suitors who are so obviously in the wrong that he cannot with decency do anything to serve them.Thus he will now and then be forced to pronounce against a person from whom he has received a present; and he makes that person a deadly enemy.

The hundreds who have got what they paid for remain quiet.It is the two or three who have paid, and have nothing to show for their money, who are noisy.

The memorable case of the Goezmans is an example of this.

Beaumarchais had an important suit depending before the Parliament of Paris.M.Goezman was the judge on whom chiefly the decision depended.It was hinted to Beaumarchais that Madame Goezman might be propitiated by a present.He accordingly offered a purse of gold to the lady, who received it graciously.There can be no doubt that, if the decision of the court had been favourable to him, these things would never have been known to the world.But he lost his cause.Almost the whole sum which he had expended in bribery was immediately refunded; and those who had disappointed him probably thought that he would not, for the mere gratification of his malevolence, make public a transaction which was discreditable to himself as well as to them.They knew little of him.He soon taught them to curse the day in which they had dared to trifle with a man of so revengeful and turbulent a spirit, of such dauntless effrontery, and of such eminent talents for controversy and satire.He compelled the Parliament to put a degrading stigma on M.Goezman.He drove Madame Goezman to a convent.Till it was too late to pause, his excited passions did not suffer him to remember that he could effect their ruin only by disclosures ruinous to himself.We could give other instances.

But it is needless.No person well acquainted with human nature can fail to perceive that, if the doctrine for which Mr.Montagu contends were admitted, society would be deprived of almost the only chance which it has of detecting the corrupt practices of judges.

We return to our narrative.The sentence of Bacon had scarcely been pronounced when it was mitigated.He was indeed sent to the Tower.But this was merely a form.In two days he was set at liberty, and soon after he retired to Gorhambury.His fine was speedily released by the Crown.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 五年一班的大明星

    五年一班的大明星

    这是一写孩子们追星的故事。曾被首都艺术家协会和山西电视制片改编成电影。张铁是一个喜欢迨拳道的男孩子,在一次见义勇为的活动中,被正在拍摄电影的导演发现。导演正在编导一部反映现代孩子成长的纪录片,于是张铁成了他片中的主角。故事用生活中的追星现象,反映了当下少年儿童的心理,有着阳光向上的正能量。
  • 炼狱小丑

    炼狱小丑

    三大世界即将毁灭,创世者混沌因为失望舍弃了神明和世界,在这个世界崩坏之时即使是可以创界的神也要死去。现在只有占领其他三大世界才可继续生存,一场以游戏为名的无限轮回将会选出神明认可的强者,届时神明将带领这些人进行旷世征伐。五族之战,古老神话,主宰争霸,逝者不死,诅咒之地,灵异之地,这一切的一切背后都有一只手在掌控着整个事件。作者的话:所有的无限流故事都是我自己想出来的,没有任何电影恐怖片轮回全是我想出来的新世界,世界观奇大,但是我的能力有限不喜勿喷。
  • 哈佛游戏全书

    哈佛游戏全书

    如果你平时不喜欢做逻辑游戏。那么这《每天一个逻辑游戏》会让你爱上它;如果你是个逻辑游戏迷,那么这《每天一个逻辑游戏》会让你觉得有新意;如果你觉得这《每天一个逻辑游戏》上的题太简单,那么。恭喜你,你已经出师了!逻辑思维是人的一种潜在能力,逻辑思维能力强则是智商高的表现。一般来说,每个人的逻辑思维能力都不是一成不变的,它是一个永远也挖不完的宝藏,只要我们愿意通过各种途径加以培养和训练,我们的逻辑思维能力就能提高
  • 一贱钟情:老公,别乱来

    一贱钟情:老公,别乱来

    热心务实的许多多为了救朋友于水火,拖三个月婚期,夜爬苏少家,将某正沐浴的男神壁咚。“娶我吧,我会洗衣做饭、种草养花、两万块你买不了吃亏,买不了上当!”为了能搞定高冷禁欲的苏少,许多多甚至不惜苦肉计、反间计、美人计连番上阵。战战兢兢三个月,婚礼成功延期举行,许多多披着婚纱正要走为上计时,苏少携保镖款款而来。“夫人去哪?”那一刻她才恍然,什么叫反客为主,什么叫将计就计。当许多多后知后觉苏少并非你传言般清心寡欲,实际是个腹黑狐狸时,她开始感叹世事无常。所以说一报还一报,苍天饶过谁。
  • Moments of Vision and Miscellaneous Verses

    Moments of Vision and Miscellaneous Verses

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 快穿之boss大人有点萌

    快穿之boss大人有点萌

    一不小心撩了一个大反派,还一撩一个准!那个谁谁……你干什么……算了,都是命中注定,反派让小爷抱走吧≧▽≦……我家反派貌美如花,我家反派顶呱呱╮(‵▽′)╭! 推荐新书《我和心魔在一起了》首发红袖。 【慢热、黑暗系、修仙、修魔、互宠,坑品保障】 ①“我慕容笑今生只不杀三种人:无辜之人,善良之人,打不过的人。” “因为我答应过乐乐,就算是魔也要做一个堂堂正正的魔!” ②“为了你,我可以放手,放过你。” “不,我可以放弃飞升,只要……你在!” ③“慕容笑!这是什么鬼玩意儿!” “这是在无极之渊时,我给你买的糖葫芦……”男人抿紧嘴唇看着那串不明物体。 ④“慕容笑,我想找个地方把你藏起来。” “你是天下的魔,但你是我的心上人。” ⑤“乐乐,你看,是鲜花,是草地,是山川,是河流!我们回到人界了。” ⑥“慕容笑,我多希望我们从未离开过无极之渊……” ⑦“你是天下的魔,你是我慕容乐的神。”你是地狱爬出来的魔鬼,也是跌落地狱的神明。 ⑧“慕容笑!说了永远在一起,少一分一秒都不行!”
  • 上阳子金丹大要仙派

    上阳子金丹大要仙派

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 嫡女重生:繁华故李

    嫡女重生:繁华故李

    前世的种种在李孤烟的脑海中一幕幕放映着。闺中密友的背叛。相公的背叛。李孤烟认知的好人,却在最后一刻才发现自己的人生,终究是场戏。是李孤烟入戏太深,还是别人瞒的够深沉?既然上天给李孤烟一次重生的机会,那么,李孤烟誓死不会重蹈覆辙,反则,浴火重生!
  • 时光带不走的阳光

    时光带不走的阳光

    顾昀琛:在她出现之前,我从没想过未来,有了她之后,我开始幻想和憧憬很多以后的场景,一开始我不知道自己为什么会有这样的转变,但在某一个瞬间,我突然间明白,原来是因为,她就是我的未来。苏木:好像从记忆开始的时候,生命里就有她了,潜意识总是觉得,她从来都是我的,可是,从丢了她那一次之后,我的存在,就是为了证明,她有多爱他。叶南希:他呀,一定是我的七世怨侣,这样好像也挺好,悲惨了七世,欠我们的幸福,这辈子,要一下子全部还回来,开个玩笑,他呀,是每时每刻都围绕在我身边的最温暖的阳光,嗯……时光带不走的那种。
  • 三个火枪手(套装上下册)(译文名著精选)

    三个火枪手(套装上下册)(译文名著精选)

    《三个火枪手(套装上下册)》中主人公达尔大尼央是一个外省的贵族子弟,来到巴黎后加入了国王路易十三的火枪队,并与另外三个火枪手结成了莫逆之交。王后安娜与英国首相白金汉有私情,安娜送了一串钻石坠子给白金汉;而与王后为敌的首相黎塞留却派人去英国偷得坠子上的两颗钻石,想使王后在舞会上出丑。达尔大尼央自告奋勇与三位朋友一起去英国,几经周折终于取回坠子,保住了王后的名节。