date

22 Jan y. 1810 Parl y. Reform
22 Jan y. 1810

Parl y. Reform

Influence

Ch. Mischief

'.1.

4

4

On any occasion in the course of this same period, suppose, for supposition sake, any other sinister interest to have obtained /commanded/ a majority, and that by the means of sinister influence, of the influence of will over will, it can only have been by means of the secret support, or through the inadvertence or the negligence on the part of /of/ the possessors that irresistible and all-commanding influence.

By means indeed of authority, viz. intellectual authority - influence of that sort which is exercised by understanding over understanding may to an indefinite amount have fallen to the share of this or that individual, or to each one of an indefinite number of individuals: and if on any occasion by that sort of influence which is exercised by will on will wills thus endowed /armed/ with a sufficient mass intellectual authority can be influenced with effect, and efficient majority sufficient to exercise /exercising/ the power of the whole assembly may in this way be got together /up/ and commanded by sinister influence in /even in/ individual /private/ hands.

But under so predominating an influence as that of the King how rarely, if ever, exemplified such particular sinister influence can have been, may be left to any one to determine.
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    Parl y. Reform

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    Now this position is one which to my view of the matter appears to be inconsistent with true morality: and /viz. as/ to involve in it, and if only by implication, yet by an implication altogether necessary, a defence /an adoption/ of the system of corruption in any the worst applications that can be made of it.

    The term influence I have already had occasion to speak of as susceptible of two very different applications, having the effect of dividing it into two species, in their conceptions as dissimilar to and in their effects as opposite to one another as any two species of acts /things/ that can be imagined: I mean influence of understanding on understanding, and influence of will on will.

    If {it were} the influence exercised by /of/ understanding over understanding if it were that which it was the intention of the Right Honorable Orator /this passage /doctrine// to present to view as that which may and must and ought to have by[?] predominating, in that case it would as little be in my inclination as in my power to depart/ find any reason for departing/ from it.
  • Title: [22 Jan y. 1810 Parl y. Reform]
    Description: 22 Jan y. 1810

    Parl y. Reform

    Influence

    Ch. Mischief

    '.1.

    3

    3

    But in the assembly /legislative body/ in question it is never without the concurrence of a majority that any such sinister effect can be produced. and By this consideration /thereupon/ we are led at once to the enquiry what is or are the source or sources of influence (influence of will on will sinister influence), by which on that Assembly on any occasion a number of wills sufficient to constitute a majority can be influenced with effect?

    In former days, viz. for some time after the Revolution the answer to this question might have admitted of some little complication: besides the Monarch on the throne, there was the head of the displaced dynasty, maintaining his pretensions to the throne, there were in a state of hostility declared or latent foreign powers, holding themselves in readiness to give him support: and by these hostile influences, during the reign of William majorities were every now and then actually produced.

    For the last half century however, viz. ever since the accession of the present Monarch /King/ the state of things in this respect has been extremely simple.

    During this period as during every other period, in this community as in every other community, sinister interests there have always been, sinister interests as many in number as there have been /the community has contained/ individuals in it. But sinister interest, provided with such means of sinister influence as to be capable /able/, in spite of every opposing force, to produce /command/ a majority there never has been any more than one, viz. that of the Monarch /King/, including that cluster of subordinate sinister interests the influencing force of which is derived from his.
  • 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.