date

Jan y. 1810 Parl y. Reform
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.
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  • Title: [21 Jan y. 1810 Parl y. Reform]
    Description: 21 Jan y. 1810

    Parl y. Reform

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    '. Influence

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    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.
  • Title: [2 Jan y 1810 Parl. Reform]
    Description: 2 Jan y 1810

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    + '.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."
  • Title: [2 Jan y 1810 + Parl y. Reform]
    Description: 2 Jan y 1810 +

    Parl y. Reform

    {Influence}

    Ch.2.

    '.1.

    1

    1

    Ch.2. Of Influence - what proper, what sinister.

    Dialogue.

    '.1.

    Objector. In this there is /seems to be/ something plausible at least but in the mean time /after and from all this/, what are we to think of influence?

    In the case /station/ of Member of Parliament - in the station of parliamentary Elector in neither of these stations is there any room, understand any legitimate and proper room - for the exercise of influence?

    Author. O yes: room, aye /yes/ and legitimate and proper room - room for legitimate and proper and due influence, in abundance.

    For this purpose however, a distinction must at the very outset marked out /brought to view/: and by the help of this distinction, in what cases influence may rightly be termed legitimate and proper, in what others illegitimate and improper, not to mention as yet /here/ certain other epithets which there may be occasion for will be rendered manifest beyond dispute.

    The influence of which the impropriety has already been brought to view is the influence of will over or on will. whatsoever influence is exercised on the will of one man considered as acting in either of those stations - in the exercise of either of those public trusts - by the will of any other individual /person/, whether in the like station or in any other. Influence thus exercising itself may as the convenience of discourse requires, be designated by any one of a variety of epithets, viz. illegitimate, improper, as above, sinister, undue, not to speak as yet of corrupt or corruption, of which presently