date

2 Jan y 1810 Parl. Reform
2 Jan y 1810

Parl. Reform

+ '.3

Influence

Ch 14 II Electors

'.3. Opposite Scales

9

3

Such is the order in which the three cases stand in order of mischievousness if constructed upon my principle. And /But/ already on the scale of mischievousness as constructed upon the principle /principles employed/ brought out by the Right[?] Honourable and Official hand, it must already have been suspected at least if not perceived, that the order is exactly the reverse /reversed/.

1. At the top of the scale stands the case of the open borough. I mean the[?] case of every open borough in which it happens to the freedom of the Electors to experience any sort of disturbance: {and in particular from that sort of disturbance to which it is most exposed, and which is called bribery.} /in any occasion undue influence comes in any shape to be exercised to exercise itself: and in particular in the shape of bribery, which if the number of the Electors be to a certain degree considerable, is the only shape in which in /to/ any considerable extent it in general can be exercised./

Here in the first place is the dry and sordid gain. To a "taint and contamination" of this same sort, true it is, that the close borough is also exposed. But in the first place the number of parcels in which in the case of the open borough the dry and sordid matter may be seen dropping down is to the amount of many times it is difficult /not easy/ to say how many times as great. 2. Then comes the " scandal": which {as already observed} could not /scarce/ be greater if the votes were " advertised for sale by Public Auction."
Similar Items
  • Title: [2 Jan y 1810 Parl y Reform]
    Description: 2 Jan y 1810

    Parl y Reform

    Ch.14 Electors

    '.4. Borough settling

    15

    3

    3

    Little character. Good heavens, how unfortunate! Could I have thought it! {Oh that I had been a hundred miles distance!} Oh yes, sure enough: The Devil created those colchicums, at that very instant, for that very purpose. I will write to Linnæus this very instant to blot out the whole tribe of them. That I should have been such a Marplot! Yet who could have thought it? I shall never see a colchicum again without bestowing a curse upon it. - Oh the cursed colchicums!

    This scene /The conversation/ is reported with a degree of fidelity such as in lives and memory is not often exemplified /equalled/, and which in all circumstances in the least material can /could/ not be exceeded.

    Had it not been for the colchicums, the living might have been obtained - who knows but it might?, the borough settled, and the breast /bosom/ /case[?]/ of the great character eased of /freed from/ all disturbance. Now upon what sort of footing would it have been settled? the illegitimate or the "legitimate"? upon the footing of any illegitimate or upon the footing of the " legitimate rights of influence"? Not the illegitimate assuredly: for in the shape of " dry and sordid

    gain" where would any thing have been to be sure in /throughout/ the whole business? In the first place the expecting youth, the man of future /[...?]/ contingent piety, would have received the Holy Ghost. Nothing " dry" or " sordid" here[?]. After the Holy Ghost he would have received the benefice: nothing dry or sordid in the benefice. Last of all /Lastly/ he would have received the tithes: and now indeed, now, afar[?], and in virtue of the godliness comes the " gain": true the gain: but still nothing " dry" (it is to be hoped) or " sordid" in it.
  • Title: [2 Jan y 1810 Parl y Reform]
    Description: 2 Jan y 1810

    Parl y Reform

    Ch.14. II. Electors

    4

    2

    If the above position be just /true/, then it is in the case and by the existence of the pocket boroughs that the freedom of election is most harshly /badly/ trenched upon, and most mischief done: next to them, in the case and by the existence of the close boroughs: lastly, perhaps in the case, viz. by accident, but not at all by the existence, of the open boroughs.

    Unfortunately, I mean for the credit of this argument such a weight /so formidable a weight in the shape/ of authority to contend against, the order in which these several results /state of things/ in the scale of mischievousness these several states of things appear to range themselves in the scale of disreputableness is directly the reverse, in the scale of mischievousness or at least of disreputableness as marked out /laid down/ by the highest authority directly the reverse.

    1. The Borough being an open one, such as Norwich for example, suppose the taunt of bribery /undue influence/ to have found its way into it. bribery in the shapes in which it will make its appearance. Behold the whole number of Electors, or at least the whole majority, and half a guinea a piece the sum at one time rumoured the bribe. Here we see gain gain of the "driest and most sordid" kind raining down in a vast shower: a number of drops not fewer than 4000 or 5000: laps, not fewer than that number to receive it: pairs of eyes not fewer than that number over and above bended[?] importunate[?] viewing it. Here then is not only the very driest and most sordid kind it being the nature of gain to be the more sordid the less there is of it, but the "scandal great": so great that it seems difficult to conceive how even by such an instrument even as a public auction it could have been made greater.
  • Title: [2 Jan y 1810 Parl y. Reform]
    Description: 2 Jan y 1810

    Parl y. Reform

    Ch 14. II Electors

    '.3. Opposite Scales

    11

    5

    At the very bottom of the scale of mischievousness stands, or rather would stand if upon the principle /principles/ in question any such result as mischief /result capable of being termed mischief /brought with justice under the denomination of mischief// could be discovered, the pocket borough. No "dry and sordid matter" {to be seen stirring} Of any dry or sordid matter not a particle to be seen stirring any where: publicity or scandal /openness, shamelessness, scandal/ none. "Influence" of the "possessions of property" - that influence which "may and mind[?], and ought" to predominate, more than " predominating", sole dominating - "legitimate rights of influence" exercised in all their plenitude - " Motives", a blank: a blank which candour, charity, and in regard for the honour of the "Parliament and the Nation, require /join in requiring/ us, upon each occasion, to fill up with "friendship, affection", or whatever other virtue may be most suitable /best adapted/ /on each occasion be seen to be best adapted/ to so /such/ laudable a purpose /purposes/.