On the Liberty of the Press, and Public Discussion. (PRESENTATION COPY FROM THE AUTHOR TO D’ARGENSON)

First edition of Jeremy Bentham’s essay on freedom of the press, considered to be one of the main foundations of a well-functioning democracy and as a protection against despotism. “Vital to the functioning of the Public Opinion Tribunal is the dissemination of information (…). It would require an unshackled press to ensure widespread publicity and the freedom to criticise unimpeded by censorship or gagging orders. Here Bentham drew upon this essay to point out the dangers of laws designed to limit these liberties. The liberty of the press is an indispensable check on arbitrary government, and therefore ‘necessary to the maintenance of good government”” (James E. Crimmins, “Jeremy Bentham”, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2017). (Goldsmiths’-Kress library, n° 23351). Presentation copy from the author, inscribed on the title page, “To Mr le marquis Argenson etc. etc. etc, from the Author.”. Marc-René-Marie le Voyer de Paulmy, Marquis d’Argenson (1771-1842), grandson of Louis XV’s Secretary of State for War and grand-nephew of Louis XV’s Minister of State, was an early supporter of the radical republican extreme left under the Empire, the Restoration and the July Monarchy. A Freemason and member of the Carbonari, as a Member of Parliament he consistently spoke out in favour of freedom of the press and freedom of religion. Bentham and d’Argenson maintained a regular and sustained correspondence from the 1810s (cf. “The Correspondence of Jeremy Bentham”, C. P. Courtney & P. Rowe, ed.). Marc-René-Marie le Voyer de Paulmy, marquis d’Argenson (1771-1842), petit-fils du secrétaire d’État à la Guerre de Louis XV, petit-neveu du ministre d’État de Louis XV, il s’engagea très tôt aux côtés de l’extrême gauche républicaine radicale sous l’Empire, la Restauration et la Monarchie de Juillet. Franc-maçon et membre des Carbonari, comme député il se prononça constamment en faveur de la liberté de la presse et de la liberté des cultes. Bentham et d’Argenson entretinrent une correspondance régulière et suivie dès les années 1810 (cf. “The Correspondence of Jeremy Bentham”, C. P. Courtney & P. Rowe, ed.). Papier légèrement bruni. Très bon exemplaire, non rogné, dans son brochage d’origine, tel que paru.