v LIFE OF BACON. 



Knowing that the efficacy of criminal legislation consists 

 in duly poising the powers of law, religion, and morals ; 

 and being aware of the common erroneous supposition, 

 that, by an increase in the quantity of any agent, its 

 beneficial effects are also increased, (a) he warned the com 

 munity that the acerbity of a law ever deadened the execu 

 tion, by associating compassion with guilt, and confounding 

 the gradation of crime, and that the sentiment of justice in 

 the public mind is as much or more injured by a law which 

 outrages public feeling, as by a law which falls short or 

 disappoints the just indignation of the community. 



But, not confining his professional exertions to the dis 

 charge of the common duties of a public prosecutor, he 

 availed himself of his situation to advance justice and 

 humanity, and composed a work for compiling and 

 amending the laws of England, which he dedicated to 

 the King, (a) &quot; Your majesty,&quot; he says, &quot; of your favour 

 having made me privy councillor, and continuing me in 

 the place of your Attorney General, I take it to be my 

 duty not only to speed your commandments and the busi 

 ness of my place, but to meditate and to excogitate of 

 myself, wherein I may best, by my travails, derive your 

 virtues to the good of your people, and return their thanks 



is mercy, is wholly left in the King s immediate hand : and justice and 

 mercy are the true supporters of his royal throne. 



&quot; If the King shall be wholly intent upon justice, it may appear with an 

 over- rigid aspect; but if he shall be over-remiss and easy, it draweth upon 

 him contempt. Examples of justice must be made sometimes for terror to 

 some ; examples of mercy sometimes, for comfort to others ; the one pro 

 cures fear, and the other love. A king must be both feared and loved, 

 else he is lost.&quot; 



(a) Debent igitur homines ludibrium illud mulieris ^sopi cogitare; 

 quae sperarat ex duplicata mensura hordei gallinam suam duo ova quotidie 

 parituram. At ilia impinguata nullum peperit. De Augmentis, LV. v. 8. 

 p. 267. 



