date

11[?] May 1811 - C Influence
11[?] May 1811 - C

Influence

Part I

Ch.3. J.B.’s Proposition

13

Influence, supposing it to be undue, sinister, and as such pernicious is so only in proportion as it is effective /efficient/.

In the House of Commons there exists no source of sinister influence, the influence from which it, at least in comparison of that of the Crown, supposing that of the Crown to admitt of the epithet sinister, in any case, effective: scarcely any that can in any case /instance/ be looked to as being positively and absolutely in any degree effective. By that influence which operates by fear, or at least by fear and hope and gratitude at the same time, it can in all ordinary cases secure an absolute majority. At no time /On no occasion/ does there exist a person or set of persons having in his or their hands the means of securing any such result.

Coercion Coercive influence, wishing by fear, by fear of losing /the loss of/ necessaries as well as by hope and gratitude is stronger than corruptive influence working by nothing but hope or gratitude hope of superfluity receivable, or gratitude for superfluity received.

Corruptive influence which having at its disposal the matter of wealth in the largest masses, and things capable of being received without countervailing[?] /danger or apprehension of[?]/ evil or disadvantage in the shape of loss of character will be more effective than corruptive influence which can not operate but in masses comparatively much smaller, nor that without danger and apprehension of such loss.
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  • Title: [11 May 1811 Influence P I]
    Description: 11 May 1811

    Influence

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    Ch.3. J.B.’s Proposition

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    Among modes of sinister influence, that which is distinguished by the name of bribery is 1. incapable of any coercive operation: it is by hope and gratitude only not by fear that it is capable of operating 2. among modes of corruptively sinister influence, it is incapable of being employed in masses more[?] so large as that in which corruptive influence in other shapes is capable of being and actually is employed:

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    {it is giving /gift/ of money only not giving of lucrative office, or remits[?] so contingent to how great a degree soever valuable source of emolument that is commonly understood by the name /appellative/ /word/ of bribery.}

    It is probably in no degree /instance/ at all, certainly in a very inconsiderable degree, if any, employed in and on Parliament - on persons already in the situation of Members of Parliament: from the nature and composition of the masses of the matter of good which in the shape /character/ of masses of the matter of corruption the servants of the Crown have at their disposal, it is not capable of being ever applied in any considerable degree and quantity, nor consequently with any considerable effect.
  • Title: [11 May 1811 Influence P. I]
    Description: 11 May 1811

    Influence

    P. I

    Ch.3. J.B.’s Proposition

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    Its influence in Parliament is therefore confined to the ease and degree in which it is capable of being made to act on Parliament by acting /operating/ on persons out of Parliament in the character of Parliamentary Electors. But on their being as above incapable in its own nature of acting with any coercive force, of operating by the principle of fear, it can operate only on comparatively small masses, and on those small masses no otherwise than by and with the force of the comparatively weak and ineffective principle of hope and gratitude.

    What /Under what/ is called the influence of property - and not only the influence but in one sense viz the legal sence at any rate of the word legitimate, with indisputable propriety the legitimate influence of property, is included not only the influence of property on the understanding but the influence of property on the will of the person considered as exposed to /operated upon by/ influence: and not only /merely/ the influence of property on the will of the person operated upon but that mode of operater which operates by the principle of fear as well as by that of hope, which operates in the way /mode/ of coercion as well as in the way of allurement and which is in both ways /shapes/ capable of being brought to act on larger masses than the matter of bribery is to /on/ any considerable extent /number of occasions/ capable of being made to act.
  • Title: [8 May 1811 + B Influence P]
    Description: 8 May 1811 + B

    Influence

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    Ch. 2. J.B.s Propositions

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    Causes good generally ever potent themselves[?] evil: evil, latent.

    17 The Influence which by will is exercised on and over will is exercised by the production either of fear of eventual evil, or of hope of eventual good, or of gratitude for good already received.

    18. In the two last cases, {such influence} the situation of the person on whom it /such influence/ is exercised being that of Agent or Trustee it /such influence/ is familiarly and commonly stiled corrupt or corruptive influence, the exercise of it successful corruption: the person on whom it is exercised if exercised with effect being said to be a person corrupted; the person by whom it is exercised, a corrupter or purely corrupting; and by the terms corruption, corruptor or corrupted, applied to the case of influence the idea of these modes of influence, one or both of them is immediately and universally /and constantly certainly/ brought to view.

    19. In the case where it is no otherwise than by the production of fear of eventual evil that the influence is exercised /operates/, it is not so readily or so universally brought to view by any of those terms.

    20 Of the term corruption or any of those its conjugates, in proportion as /so far as/ the application of it is acknowledged to be proper /improper/, the effect is to cast and fix upon the practice itself and thence upon all persons who are considered as concerned /bearing any part in it, a considerable /large/ measure in proportion of disapprobation and blame and disapprobation.