date

[part in copyist’s hand] 1819 March
[part in copyist’s hand]

1819 March 15 C 1 + +

To Erskine

II. People’s Error

Error 4. Influence

6

1

5

{5. Error 5. Considering “as unjust and illegal” “influences”, “what in all free and popular elections must form the very nature of human affairs, perpetually exist.”

Observations.

Here I must acknowledge here, at the very opening of the sentence, I feel myself in no small perplexity: and the farther I travel in it, the thicker the perplexity. So much insinuated; so little, if any thing, asserted: so many ideas put together and given as one ideas which I should have wished to have seen separated:- some which – (but I see with how little effect) – I had used my weak endeavour to put and to keep asunder ... What – what shall I do! I know not how to fix the colours of cameleons: I am not used to grope for eels. Well. I must e’en transcribe the whole paragraph as it stands, before I can venture to apply so much as one word more to it!}

“Another great error seems to have prevailed during the late Election, which strikes || at the very form and condition of social life; influences being considered as unjust

and illegal, which in all free and popular Elections must, from the very nature of human affairs, perpetually exist. It may not indeed, it can not always happen, that every man in Westminster, who pays to the public taxes, has had leisure, amidst laborious occupations, to consider the claims of Candidates to distinction and preference: such persons may fairly trust in the opinions and repose in the wishes of their benefactors, their employers, and friends, and it is not corruption in enlightened men, who can see clearly the interests of their Country, to use their influence with persons less qualified to investigate those subjects: but whether I am right or wrong in this, it always did and always must happen in popular Elections, unless God shall be pleased completely to recast the nature and character of man. If, upon the late election, influences were exerted which the law prohibits, I hope they will be detected and punished, and a new Election awarded; but, beyond that, it is useless and even childish to complain.”

|| Note

|| ... “ which strikes”: which /by the word/ being I suppose meant – not the last antecedent, namely “ the last Election”, but an anterior antecedent, to wit “ Another great error”.
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    1

    1

    Letter III. People’s alledged errors: in particular as to influence

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  • Title: [1819 March 15 + II. People Errors]
    Description: 1819 March 15 +

    II. People Errors

    Error 4

    Influence

    7

    2

    Nor yet Under all this perplexity, am I altogether without consolation, considering the opportunity thus afforded me, of giving, as I hope to do by illustration, a little more clearness to certain ideas which I have ventured to submitt to the public in this or that former publication: especially considering the hope how faint so ever, which it seems to hold out to me, of finding those poor works of mine receive the honour of being taken for part and parcel of that matter, upon which Your Lordship’s “system of defence” may exercise itself.

    The ideas in question consist of that /those/ which bring to view in the first place the distinction between influence of understanding on understanding and the influence of will on will: in the next place the distinction between self-formed judgment and derived or derivative judgment.

    Now then, to apply to the clouds raised by Your Lordship’s eloquence those elucidating distinctions The influence of understanding on understanding I admitt and hold to be not only not illegal (heartily do I wish that it were on all occasions legal!) but “ not unjust” – in one word just – in all cases. The influence of will on will, whether avowed or unavowed, I hold to be unjust, in so far as it is employed for the giving determination to conduct in any case in which by law or morality such conduct is supposed to be free: – in every such case unjust; though unhappily, not in every such case illegal.

    In regard to the influence of understanding on understanding, what I shall hold is – that, on all questions of public concernment without exception, the exercise of it ought to be left – left not only by law but by public opinion – in a state of the most perfect freedom: on all questions of public concernment in general; and in particular in all cases in which either politics, morals, or – to conclude with the object of highest concernment – religion, are concerned.