date

21 Jan y. 1810 Parl y. Reform
21 Jan y. 1810

Parl y. Reform

Ch.2.

'. Influence

4

This however is a salvo: and not to be employed but in case of necessity, and /viz/ for defence against gainsayers.

When the persons you have to do with are persons whom /whose obsequiousness/ you may depend, as being in the character of obsequious more disposed to acquiesce /[...?]/ in what you say, before such company /auditors/ or with a view to such readers you may go on to indulge yourself in your panegyrics without reserve. Where the ground is thus prepared, you come at last to the observation that notwithstanding all this some persons there are weak enough to suppose or insincere enough to affect to suppose in a constitution such as ours that influence is unnecessary or even pernicious.

All this while there is one sort of influence which indeed is necessary, and another which so far from being necessary is pernicious. But so long as nobody makes /takes/ the distinction, and in the instance of every person who fails of making the distinction you succeed in impressing the persuasion that all influence without any distinction is necessary. At the same time Should any such suspicion present itself to any person as that there is a sort of influence which instead of being /is not/ necessary but is pernicious, still, so unless it has happened to him to [...?] upon the exact line of distinction, he does /gives/ not give you much trouble. On his part he observes that there is a sort of influence which is undue: on your part you accede to the /his/ observation. Your fallacy remains still unexposed: and he and you part good friends.
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  • Title: [Jan y. 1810 Parl y. Reform]
    Description: Jan y. 1810

    Parl y. Reform

    Ch.2.

    '.2. [...?]

    5

    The odd thing is if it be true, that in all this /such[?]/ time the true line of distinction has escaped observation: so that, the argument has been conducted on the one side by an indiscriminate attack upon influence, on the other by an indiscriminate defence of it without any other approach to /attempt at/ discrimination than what is contained in the apellant undue, by which the [...?] of the /[...?]/ defender is saved without his being obliged really to give up what /anything that/ is undue.

    To /On/ every body by whom the distinction has not been perceived you have thus succeeded in giving /impressing/ the same opinion - the same favourable opinion - of the undue sort as of the due.
  • Title: [21 Jan y. 1810 Parl y. Reform]
    Description: 21 Jan y. 1810

    Parl y. Reform

    Ch.2.

    '. Influence why used

    2

    To apply to the particular case here in question let us now apply /apply now/ this general direction to the particular case here in question.

    The sort of influence here in question having as above been shewn to be sinister, corruption the term commonly applied to it is properly applied to it /ordinary appellation given to it, is accordingly a /the/ proper one/. But so generally is the mischievousness of the thing felt at least, if not to an equal extent clearly and distinctly understood, that to the idea of the thing itself the ideas of disapprobation and censure are /have/ by this its denomination been attached to it and are presented along with it.

    If the thing in question be any thing that you are defending Corruption is therefore not a word /an appellation/ by which at the time you are defending it you can consistently with the rules of common precedence /consistently with such design/ think of designating it, nor consequently by which you are ever disposed to designate it.

    You therefore look out for some appellation which though capable and without any impropriety of being employed to designate this pernicious and indefensible practice, is also applicable and without impropriety if possible to the designation of another /some other/ practice which so far from being indefensible shall be is[?] to the view of every body salutary and even necessary.

    In the present instance fortunately for this your purpose in the present instance a word that fits your purpose /it/ to a hairs breadth is /craves your acceptance, viz./ the word influence.
  • Title: [21[?] Jan y. 1810 + Parl y. Reform]
    Description: 21[?] Jan y. 1810 +

    Parl y. Reform

    Note ?

    Ch.2. Influence what purpose

    '.1

    1

    11

    In the situation here in question by will on will whatsoever influence is exercised is sinister: no influence that is not sinister can be exercised that is not sinister: all such influence might /should/ therefore as far as possible be excluded. And that to a great and even /to all probability/ sufficient degree it may be excluded /is practicable/ will be seen hereafter.

    In the same situation, by understanding on understanding influence may be exercised that is not sinister, to exclude all such influence, whether possible or no could not be proper or desirable.

    On the contrary in this same situation the admission of this sort of influence is desirable: desirable, and to /even in/ such a degree as to be altogether necessary.

    True it is that along with such influence of this kind as is salutary and conducive to right conduct the admission of such as is of an opposite tendency, viz. sinister, pernicious and conducive to misconduct is not altogether, is indeed only in a comparatively inconsiderable degree, capable of being avoided /avoidable/. At whatever door can be opened for the admission of salutary instructive influence of this sort instructive influence of this sort pernicious, deceptitious is capable of finding entrance: and here to distinguish between the one and the other and choose[?] accordingly is the task which rests in the judgment in all cases.