date

17 Dec r 1809 Parl y. Reform
17 Dec r 1809

Parl y. Reform

Ch.2. Dependence

'.3. Modes and Degrees

12

7

All this while his /the/ advantage such as it is, is so only with reference to the Member of parliament /the interest/ /the party/ to whom it is proposed to place in dependence, not with reference to the higher interest, viz. that of the King, by whom and for whose benefit the agent of the people ought to be kept in that convenient and useful state. For to the Member's share as against the King falls in this case a degree - not of dependence but of comparative independence in comparison of the state in which by the acceptance of the revocable office in his own person he would be placed.

Accordingly in any such view as that of creating dependence, to bestow any such revocable office upon the friend of a Member would never be worth the King's while, were the dependence created, and consequent obsequiousness secured by that one single and individual transaction the only benefit of the kind capable of being drawn from it. Thus[?] bestowed no greater fund /stack/ of obsequiousness is capable of being extracted from a revocable office or other benefit than would be from the same if it were an irrevocable one. But once more, be the nature of the benefit what it may, and whether by the possession /if it were in possession/ of it any dependence would or could not be created, by the expectation of it if it be good for anything dependence may always be created: and for one possessor there are expectants always by dozens and by scores: and so many of these expectants as you have, so many dependents, so many proper and loyal gentlemen, on whose obsequiousness a Gracious King may count.
Similar Items
  • Title: [17 Dec r 1809 Parl y. Reform]
    Description: 17 Dec r 1809

    Parl y. Reform

    Ch.3. Dependence

    '.2. Friend the possessor

    13

    8

    On the part of the sort of person in question as towards the sort of person in question, a sort of dependence, or of not strictly speaking of habitual obsequiousness which comes to the same thing, is apt to be created or to be supposed /considered/ to be created, by gratitude by this sentiment of gratitude or by a sort of consideration, which calls itself by that name: and it is only in this way and thus far that a Member can be said to be placed in dependence by a benefit irreversible or as hath just been shewn even by a revocable one conferred on his friend.

    But this refused and frequently so far refused as to be imaginary /but ideal/ species of dependence, has so many particularities belonging to it, as to claim /to possess an irrevocable[?] title to/ a chapter to itself.
  • Title: [16[?] Dec r. 1809 C.3. + '.1 Parl]
    Description: 16[?] Dec r. 1809 C.3. + '.1

    Parl y. Reform

    Influence

    Ch.3. Dependence - Modes

    '.1

    1

    1

    Ch.3. Dependence - its modes and degrees.

    Ch.3. Dependence - modes in which it is produced.

    '.1. Possessor of the benefit, the dependent himself

    1. What a benefit is as yet but an expectancy, whatsoever be the shape in which in other respects it manifested itself, the degree of dependence created by it and in which the Member is kept by it is exactly equal what /that /in/ which/ would be created on /he would be placed on/ his part by the expectancy /expectation/ of an equal chance of receiving the greatest sum of money which, supposing him to have it to spare he would be willing to give for the purchase of it.

    2. In this case it accordingly makes no difference whether the benefit when once received be of a nature to have been received all at once, or of a sort of which the nature is governed by duration - whether it be irrevocable or revocable whether it consists in the receipt of positive good, or in liberation from expected /apprehended/ evil: nor in either case whether it be by and for himself that, if received, it will be received, or by or for his friend /a friend of his/: - nor lastly whether the good /enjoyment/ of which it puts a man in possession /consists/ be /consists of/ the nature of money, power, {ease,} reputation, ease or vengeance.
  • Title: [17 Dec r 1809 Parl y Reform]
    Description: 17 Dec r 1809

    Parl y Reform

    Influence

    Ch.3. Dependence - Modes

    '.1. Self the possessor

    5

    5

    10. Where the benefit in question is revocable, and that benefit in possession the /the circumstance by which it is converted[?] into an/ efficient cause of dependence is the fear of losing it.

    11. By the fear of losing a revocable benefit, for example a lucrative or power-conferring office, a greater /more operative efficient/ /actually /already/ in possession/ degree of dependence is produced than by the hope of gaining the same office, coupled (as all hope must be) with the opposite fear, the fear of not acquiring /gaining/ it. For

    12 When once a man has been for a certain time in possession of any such benefit with the source of income attached to it, he grounds /builds[?]/ upon it the plan of his future life: whereupon, if it happens to him to lose it, he is no longer able to move in his accustomed sphere, but is forced to descend /sink/ into a lower: whereas /an inferior one: but/ if the object of his ambition /desire/ be still but in expectancy, not having yet been attained /obtained/, in this case, although it should never happen to him to attain /obtain/ it, still no such downfall is ever felt by him: the worst that in that respect /in respect of mode of life/ happens to him is to continue as he was.