date

7 June 1810 1 §.4. Influence
7 June 1810 1 §.4.

Influence

Ch. Mischief

§.4.

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§. 4. Effect of numbers - how modified by these bands.

2. The other circumstance necessary to be taken into the account is - that on almost any question that is likely to be brought upon such a carpet, {which ever be the wrong - the sinister side} which ever be the side that accords with the sinister interest or humour of the King - or to speak still more generally - which ever on that question be the wrong, the sinister side, it is but natural that independently of all sinister bias in the way of interest, there should in each an assembly be a number of Members more or less considerable, disposed to range themselves on that sinister side.

This being admitted, the number of wills which for the purpose of giving effect to the sinister will of the King require /it is necessary on this or that /on the occasion of this or that particular question// to put under regal influence receives a proportionable diminution. In a minimum House, to the purpose of carrying a new measure, six and twenty wills in a state of subjection to sinister influence was the number above stated as being necessary, abstraction made of /buying out of the account/ this circumstance. Take now into account this circumstance, and immediately it will be seen that so it may happen that a number much /considerably/ less than this six and twenty may suffice. Let the number /Out of the necessary six and twenty/ thus attached to the sinister side by a twist in the understanding be six, the number for the securing of whose votes it is necessary that the twist should be applied to the will is thus reduced to twenty: augment to sixteen the number of distorted understandings, the number of wills to which it is necessary that the distortion should be applied is thus reduced to ten: and so on through every variation in the number.
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    §.2 Undue influence in the House - its efficiency and thence its mischievousness depends upon numbers.

    For the present purpose then, the question is reduced to this - viz. what, where the influencing will is that of the King is the mischief produced by the subjection of the will of a Member of Parliament to that /such/ influence.

    Here the answer is - take the case of any one such individual Member, and suppose the effect of the supposed sinister influence confined to that one, the mischief amounts to nothing. Why? - because by a single Member, no measure can either in that or in the other House of Parliament be with any effect carried or opposed.

    To be productive then of that /a mischievous/ or any such effect it is necessary that the supposed sinister influence should be operative upon a number of persons in the situation in question, and that a number sufficient to carry with it the power of the House.

    In the House of Commons, forty is the least number capable of exercising for the purpose of carrying any measure the power of the House: twenty-six /the majority of that number/ is then the least number by which in the way of carrying a mischievous measure /a measure productive of sinister mischief/ any mischief could be produced by the supposed sinister regal influence.

    But if the number present be as just supposed no more /greater/ than forty, then for the purpose of defeating by sinister influence a beneficial measure, a single will subject to such sinister influence is capable /may by possibility/ of being sufficient. In this case the will and act of this one individual /will/ will have the /is capable of acting with the/ same efficiency as the six and twenty wills in the other case.
  • Title: [7 June 1810 Influence Ch. Mischief]
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    The minimum /least/ number of Members sufficient to exercise in a positive way /to a positive purpose/ the power of the House is it will be observed no more that forty: while the greatest numbers of which it can by possibility be composed, is so high /great/ as 698. But to every practical purpose this maximum number is perfectly an ideal one: for the practical maximum may be safely taken the greatest numbers that in any one instance was ever known to vote. This may have been it is believed about /it is believed has never risen to[?] high as to/ 450.

    Taking into account even the most warmly contested questions, the average it is believed would not be found to rise so high as to 200. {To take the real average by an enumeration commencing at the last Union would be a curious enough as well as importantly[?] instructive operation: but by far too laborious to be performed for this or any other purpose by the author of these pages.}

    §.2. Whether the occasionally exemplified number sometimes as low as the 40, or the supposed average number of 200, or even the greatest morally possible number 450 be considered, if the number of those who labour /labouring/ under /habitually led[?] down to the regal side by/ an habitual twist of the understanding {be considered} as also the number of enlisted persons acting under a leader by the gaining of which leader the whole band is gained as above be considered, it may be left to any considerate and impartial mind to judge by how small a number of wills put under influence and regularly and habitually acting in that habitually obsequious state the conduct of any such Assembly is capable of being determined.
  • Title: [June 1810 1 §.5. Influence]
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    §. Independent companies naturally attached to the King’s own regiment[?]

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    Anti-reform interest - allies naturally adhering to it, without need of special influence.

    I mean even to the purpose of carrying, by a vis matrix[?] as it may be called, any positive measure. But when considered as acting by its own vis inertia[?], viz in such sort as to obstruct and prevent the adoption of any new measure, in to the prevention of which the King possesses or conceives himself to possess /stand engaged by/ an interest, it will be easy to see that the habitual sinister efficiency of the regal will in this case be to a prodigious degree greater than in the other case.

    But so long as in the texture of the government so much as a single abuse exists in /from/ which the King derives or appears likely to derive a profit in any shape a profit, so long there will be a beneficial measure which it will be the King’s interest to prevent, and which unless he be of a species different from the human, it must on pain of turning a deaf ear to the suggestions /departure from the principles/ of common sense be for every practical purpose concluded, that it will be his endeavour to prevent.

    So many members therefore as there are who by themselves or any of their connections have /possess/ an interest in the preservation of abuse in any shape, so many are there as even without the application of any such instrument /expence[?]/ of distortion as above ought to be considered as labouring to this purpose under an habitual twist of the will /volitional faculty/, disposing and engaging them to resist any and every measure by which if carried abuse would in every shape be abolished or diminished. For no maxim in politics is more thoroughly understood or rather felt or /and in practice/ more steadily applied conformed to /put to use/ than that all those by whom profit in any shape is derived from abuse in any shape are linked /stand engaged/ into partnership by one common interest.