date

5 Nov 1809 Parl y. Reform
5 Nov 1809

Parl y. Reform

'.2. Influence on understanding

Instruments of fascination

3

The wig[?] [...?] suffer[?] without their having votes in [...?] had in that assembly which is to pronounce on their pockets[?] and their talents[?]

Such in a word /at any rate/ is the power /influence/ with which independently of all reasoning those who have at command these instruments of fascination are able and wont through the medium of the imagination to exercise on the understanding of the bulk of men - to exercise without the aid of corruption that is to every purpose of government - and not of good government only /merely/ but in no inconsiderable degree of bad government the corrupt species of influence, the influence of will over will, might well /without much difficulty/ be spared.

The King makes Lord High Chancellor when he pleases: and whether he be capable or not capable of forming a decision, no sooner is he seen walking with a man before him, or sitting on a particular bench with a gown of a particular cut on his back that men in general are sufficiently /abundantly/ assured /satisfied/ of his fitness for that highest of all high offices. The advantage thus given to inaptitude might therefore one should think be sufficient without giving to this judge not only a vote but a lead in that assembly which is to sit in judgment over his acts.

The King makes Secretary for the Home Department Secretary for the Foreign Department Secretary for the conduct of the war; First Commissioner of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer when he pleases.
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  • Title: [5 Nov 1809 Parl. Reform Ch]
    Description: 5 Nov 1809

    Parl. Reform

    Ch.1. Explanations

    '.2. Influence on understanding

    Instruments of fascination

    2

    But, as the human mind is constituted /such is the constitution of the human mind/ this excessive effect /influence/ they are in experience found in general to have: and to /in addition to/ /over and above/ the power of which, in the instance /case/ of those classes which are invested with power they are the constant concomitants and unerring indications, they are commonly understood as evidence little less conclusive of those virtues and accomplishments /attributes/ with which the power must be accompanied, ere the exercise of it can be directed to its proper ends. So certain has this union of appropriate virtue with political power been believed to be or at least represented to be by those leading men /writers/ upon whose minds the minds /minds in general/ of other men are moulded that without knowing who will be King the gift of prayer not being accompanied in this instance with the gift of prophecy the authors of the English Liturgy /Liturgy of the English Choral/ scruple not to certify of of the King that is of every King that he is not only "most gracious" but "most religious".

    It is thus that Blackstone, in his picture /portraiture/ of the King a picture /portraiture/ which like the seven-leagued boots that fitted alike all legs, represents alike all Kings, thinks it no robbery to cloath him in the attributes of the Divinity: and conceiving of peers that the endowments of wisdom, valour and /or/ opulence would not all become their quality, has in favour of all Peers that be or are to be signed a certificate certifying of them and every of them that they are either wise or rich or valiant.
  • Title: [15 Oct r 1809 + '.2. Continued Parl]
    Description: 15 Oct r 1809 + '.2. Continued

    Parl y Reform

    {Ch.}1. Explan

    {'.}/Ch./2. Influence on understanding

    Instruments of fascination

    11

    1

    9

    Influence the deceptitious[?] viz. by instruments of fascination is still influences of understanding on understanding ends[?]

    through the medium of the imagination

    Instruments[?] of fascination[?] chiefly [...?] an indication of peculiar qualities moral or intellectual.

    In virtue of the well known principle of association - of the faculty that any two ideas that on former occasions have been present together in the mind, have of introducing each other on subsequent occasions, the imagination is apt to be wrought upon, and frequently with great force, by sensible objects of different classes, and more particularly by visible ones. In so far as the influence thus exerted on it by these objects is regarded as excessive, or as operating in a wrong direction, causing /so as to cause or tend to cause/ the imagination to lead the judgment into wrong conclusions, the objects which act in this manner on the imagination may be termed instruments of fascination.

    To this head belong the several sensible material symbols by which in almost all countries the different classes and ranks and classes of men have come to be distinguished: in England the crown and sceptre of the King, the coronet of the Peer the star of the Knight, the uniform of the military officer, the robes and mass of artificial hair of the Judge and the Advocate - and so forth

    It is only indeed in so far as the influence they respectively have on the imagination and through the medium of the imagination on the judgment, has the effect of giving to the authority of their several /respective/ [...?] and liveries more weight in the scale of reasoning /argumentation/ than properly belongs to it, than any such appellations /name[?]/ /appellatives/ as fascination, instruments of fascination can, with propriety, be respectively applicable to them.
  • Title: [7 May 1811 Influence P.I]
    Description: 7 May 1811

    Influence

    P.I

    Ch. 2. J.B.s Propositions

    §.1.

    3

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    8. To the purpose of the King’s exercising by and through his political servants members of the administrative department over the Members of the House of Commons the influence of understanding over understanding what is necessary is - that they should respectively possess and exercise is the right of sitting and speaking in that assembly: what to that same purpose is not /neither/ necessary nor in any way conducive is - that they or any of them should exercise or possess a right of voting in that assembly.

    9. In respect of the power as well of patronage as of management which the King has and ought to have in relation to themselves as well as other persons connected with them by the various ties of interest and sympathy, so long as /if so it be that/ they have votes, it can not but be that the King by his will /to the purpose of commanding and determining those votes/ should possess and exercise over their respective wills that influence which if proposition the 6 th be true he ought not to exercise.