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ded in their design。 An analogous example is offered in the case of a man who; from a
feeling of revenge; — perhaps not an unjust one; but produced by injury on the other's part; —
burns that other man's house。 A connection is immediately established between the deed itself and
a train of circumstances not directly included in it; taken abstractedly。 In itself it consisted in merely
presenting a small flame to a small portion of a beam。 Events not involved in that simple act follow
of themselves。 The part of the beam which was set fire to is connected with its remote portions;
the beam itself is united with the woodwork of the house generally; and this with other houses; so
that a wide conflagration ensues; which destroys the goods and chattels of many other persons
besides his against whom the act of revenge was first directed; perhaps even costs not a few men
their lives。 This lay neither in the deed abstractedly; nor in the design of the man who mitted it。
But the action has a further general bearing。 In the design of the doer it was only revenge executed
against an individual in the destruction of his property; but it is moreover a crime; and that involves
punishment also。 This may not have been present to the mind of the perpetrator; still less in his
intention; but his deed itself; the general principles it calls into play; its substantial content entails it。
By this example I wish only to impress on you the consideration; that in a simple act; something
farther may be implicated than lies in the intention and consciousness of the agent。 The example
before us involves; however; this additional consideration; that the substance of the act;
conseque
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