第3章 MY DEAR SIR(3)

Thus seeing with the clearness of noonday light，thus convinced with the certainty of conviction itself，let us not perpetuate the really unnecessary evils which our present practices inflict on this large proportion of our fellow subjects.Should your pecuniary interests somewhat suffer by adopting the line of conduct now urged，many of you are so wealthy that the expense of founding and continuing at your respective establishments the institutions necessary to improve your animate machines would not be felt，but when you may have ocular demonstration，that，instead of any pecuniary loss，a well-directed attention to form the character and increase the comforts of those who are so entirely at your mercy，will essentially add to your gains，prosperity，and happiness，no reasons，except those founded on ignorance of your self-interest，can in future prevent you from bestowing your chief care on the living machines which you employ.And by so doing you will prevent an accumulation of human misery，of which it is now difficult to form an adequate conception.

That you may be convinced of this most valuable truth，which due reflection will show you is founded on the evidence of unerring facts，is the sincere wish of THE AUTHOR

[Original Dedication of Fourth Essay.First Dedication of the Four Essays in subsequent Editions.]

To His Royal Highness the Prince Regent of the British Empire SIR

The following pages are dedicated to Your Royal Highness，not to add to the flattery which through past ages has been addressed to those of our fellow men who have filled elevated situations；

but they claim your protection because they proceed from a Subject of the empire over which you preside，and from one who disregards every inferior consideration in order that he may accomplish the greatest practical good to that empire.

Your Royal Highness，and all who govern the nations of the world，must be conscious that those of high rank，as well as those in the inferior stations of life，now experience much misery.

The Essays，of which these pages constitute the Fourth，have been written to show that the true origin of that misery may be traced to the ignorance of those who have formerly ruled，and of those whom they governed；to make that ignorance known and evident to all；and to sketch the outlines of a practical Plan of Government，founded altogether on a preventive system，and derived from principles directly opposed to the errors of our forefathers.And should the outlines which have been sketched be formed into a legislative system，and adhered to without deviation，the most important benefits may be anticipated，both to the subjects of these realms and to the human race.

Your Royal Highness and those who direct the policy of other nations have been taught that you have duties to execute；but which，with the highest ability and best intentions，under the prevailing systems of error，cannot be performed.

Hence the dissatisfaction of those for whose benefit Governments were or ought to have been first established，and the perplexity and danger of those who govern.