date

18 June 1811 Parl. Reform On
18 June 1811

Parl. Reform

On S.C. N o 3

5

Exactly opposite is the interest of S.C.’s “658 men of the first character and consequence (with a very few exceptions) in the country, or at any rate what comes to the same thing of the only part of them /those /all/ among them/ who can find motive for that constancy of /any adequate degree of constancy in/ attendance on which the general result depends.

It is their interest that, to the utmost amount that the people will endure, pensions without public service, pensions for […?] mischief to the public for service done to men in power at the expence and to the injury of the public should continually be bestowed, sinecures that to the utmost possible /endurable/ amount in respect of the numbers as well as quantity of emolument attached to each, sincerity[?], unless places and overpaid places should be preserved /created/ and upon every favourable occasion created - that as well in the shape of money as in every other shape, benefits at the expence of the people should be heaped up upon those whose study it is by well-applied obsequiousness to render themselves useful and /or agreable to men in power:

and that to this end waste not only of honours, dignities and so forth but of public money should continually have place to the utmost amount that the people can be brought to endure, and above all, as being that source of waste in comparison of which all others put together was as nothing, that unnecessary, ever unnecessary either if not from its very commencement, as to its continuance be {and frequently as possible} kindled, and as long as possible kept up.
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  • Title: [18 June 1811 Parl. Reform On]
    Description: 18 June 1811

    Parl. Reform

    On S.C. N o 3

    4

    Speaking of the “658 men” in question they have, “all of them” he says, “the same personal interest as their constituents and the people at large in perceiving the British Constitution”.

    Thus it seems to S.C.: but this is exactly what I am unable as if it were practicable /possible/ I should be desirous to believe.

    As to /of/ their constituents and the people at large it is their interest that there should be no public money wasted - that there should be no fee[?] pensions or[?] a small amount none unmerited or unnecessary, no sinecures, no useless places, no overpaid places: no retribution in the shape of money when service equal in quantity and value is obtainable by retribution afforded in a less expensive shape: and where money avarice[?] forced from the people in the shape of taxes is the shape in which such retribution is afforded, that as little of it as is consistent with the sufficiencies[?] of the service, quantity and quality taken together, should be afforded /expended/: and to that end that there should be no unnecessary wars.
  • Title: [18 June 1811 Parl. Reform On]
    Description: 18 June 1811

    Parl. Reform

    On S.C. N o 3

    9

    As to war, the sense and substance of all […?] - the grand engine /instrument/ of misrule - observe how general /common/ interest stands to this respect: seeing how general interest stands, you need not be at much loss to conclude what course will be taken by general /common/ practice.

    Whatsoever would be created or kept up by the Ins interest prompts the Outs to oppose it, and it is opposed accordingly. Be it against whom it may - let it have come whence it may, be assured that in their view of the matter it is either unjust, unnecessary, ill-conducted, or all three. While it lasts it produces, in the shape of taxes and conscriptions, additions to the mass of public burthens: to the people more sources of suffering and complaint, to the Outs /Opposition/ more grounds for attack, more chances for ultimate success /victory/.

    Suppose on the ground of injustice or non- /want of/ necessity not that on either ground any such effect can well be produced suppose then on the ground of ill-success, from which infallibility and from which alone ill conduct will on the part of the people be believed, the party to whose lot it fell to give commencement or continuance of the war, driven out. Opposition with its “profession” now comes in. Do you suppose, can you seriously suppose that with so much to gain by war, they will be less ready, supposing any chance for the people enduring to see them continuing it, they will be the less ready to give commencement to another war, as unjust, as unnecessary, as imagination can conceive? Alas! little do you consider the force of sinister interest on one side /the one part/, the purpose[?] by the electioneers[?] on the other.
  • Title: [1 Sep. 1809 Parl y. Reform]
    Description: 1 Sep. 1809

    Parl y. Reform

    B.II Influence?

    Ch.1. Explanations

    '.5 Matter of corruption its force encreased

    1 o or 2 o

    {15}

    Discord? [...?]?

    '. Degrees of dependence producible by the different modifications.

    1. Of these portions of power, corresponding to or determined the different shapes in which the portion of the matter of wealth conferred by the exercise of it presents itself, that which consists in the power of granting pensions, is by far the least well fitted /adapted/ to the purpose of corruption, and the interest which it creates is accordingly that which merits in the lowest degree the appellation of sinister interest. Given without any regard /deference/ real or so much as pretended to public service /service of any kind/, it is only so much money given away in waste.

    cf under

     Note here pensions during pleasure - equally in respect of waste; to which is added their extra mischievousness in the character of instruments of corruption.

    2. Next above in the scale of mischievousness, comes the power of conferring /placing men in/ over-endowed though efficient offices. The {difference here} Between this case and that of pensions /a pension/ as above the difference is that between a perpetual annuity and an annuity for life.