Political legitimacy was validated by fear of anarchy, the terrifying reality of which had been observable across the Channel within living memory. Arbitrary, draconian repression was the rule: under the “Bloody Code” of criminal justice, more than 100 felonies were punishable by death or transportation.
1820年的英国由腐败的寡头政治统治，紧密的联盟与国教体系把持着权力。政治合法性来自于对无政府主义的恐慌——海峡对岸的可怕事实就在眼前，相去未远。专制、严厉的压迫就是规则：根据刑事判决的“血腥法典”，有100多项罪名可判死刑或流刑。专利制度以昂贵和不可获得而闻名。