date

20 June 1811 Abdication 2
20 June 1811

Abdication

2

58

That on the part of those by whom these seats are filled upon the present terms there would be a general not to say universal reluctance, and that a most strenuous one to the subjecting themselves to any terms in a /any/ considerable degree disadvantageous, and in particular in /to/ such a degree disadvantageous as those just mentioned, is what can never be desired.

But from such reluctance can any such conclusion be with any /the least/ colour of reason be inferred as that no persons equally fit would be found upon the proposed terms in question upon the only terms which with reference to the public would not be disadvantageous? By no means.

1. In the first place, no reason would it afford for supposing that even by the self same individuals - and if not by all of them, […?] of all without exception that were worth having - at any rate by all that were most worth having, the same /these/ seats would not continue to be filled after the proposed /supposed/ reduction in the terms, as before.

But here[?] most incontestably, and even by the supposition, on the supposed new terms, the public business, would though so far by the same hands be in several respects and those most important ones better exercised /performed/ - performed more to the advantage of the public than before, these same hands though in point of individuality they would be the same hands, yet in respect of character and conduct and character they would be bastard[?] hands: as hands they would be what no body body is when by /in lieu of/ the original corruption uncorruption has been put in by it.
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    As to the abdication of the power itself, this being certainly not performed /never pronounced/ by the House, must if pronounced at all be pronounced by some one else /other authority/: the exercise being the only thing abdicated in fact, the abdication if pronounced at all must be /remains/ pronounced as a matter of inference, grounded upon and drawn from that fact.
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    Would any body, that is fit for it, accept the situation upon such terms? Is there any body who, being fit for it would accept the situation upon such terms?

    Answer. No most assuredly, of those who were fit for it, and who could get better terms, not one /nobody/: - add - nor of those who were unfit for it: - not that it were possible for men to be more unfit for it than such as under the existing order of things have always been seen in possession of it, and always will be seen in possession of it, in abundance.

    Be the situation what it may, no man who is fit for it will accept of it on less advantageous terms, if in his view of the matter he can retain or obtain it upon more advantageous terms. This is the case, the terms being advantageous to /in/ the degree in which we see those at present: this would equally be the case, were they ever so many times more advantageous than at present.

    But /in/ this consideration has it any /is there any thing that in/ the slightest tendency /degree contributes/ to render it probable that if in the way proposed that it is in such way as by giving to these Agents of the people a duty to perform, and producing on their part by efficient and adequate and efficient motives a disposition to fulfill that duty, the terms they sit and act upon /upon which they are allowed to occupy their seats/ were rendered so much the less advantageous, - less viz. by the difference between the obligation of pursuing the interest of the /their/ constituents and the permission to pursue their own private interest at the expence of that of their constituents - the situation would find nobody to fill it or if filled would be filled less aptly than at present? No verily: not any thing whatsoever.
  • Title: [20 June 1811 Abdication 3]
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    2. In the next place though of the existing assemblage /set/ not a single individual should be able to prevail upon himself to sit as upon the supposed new terms, still would not any reason /no reason/ be afforded for apprehending any want of fresh /other/ persons ready to sit upon these supposed new terms ready to undertake the exercise of share in /portion of/ the supreme power, even though a duty so severe and irksome, so volumicient[?] and unreasonable, so unexampled and romantic, as that of binding themselves to content themselves with power and reputation and respect without pecuniary profit, and for the sake of that power and reputation and respect, to give up as much of their own time and of their own ease as by the most illustrious and highest of them all is constantly given up at present, were formed the substance of the supposed terms.

    At any rate if in the character of an end in view the result were desirable /fit to be desired/ the experiment might be worth trying, always on the supposition that it is the interest of the constituents that is of all the members of the community with the exception of these[?] there[?] its agents, that it is the interest of the many millions /so many million/ that in comparison of the interest of these few hundreds has the best claim to be pursued.

    By the bare acceptance of such terms a man is rendered in some respects at least so much the more fit: and if so it be that by the same cause he is rendered in any respects the less fit, surely it is for them to whom it appears that in certain respects he would be the less fit, to tell us /point out/ what they are.