date

23 Dec r 1809 + '.5 Parl y. Reform
23 Dec r 1809 + '.5

Parl y. Reform

Ch.6 Parl. Corruption Members

'. II Corruptor Course[?] - continued

Corruption continued

'.5. [...?] [...?] mind[?]

20

1

1

'.5 2. Mischief to subordinate corruptors mind.

3. The above being the mind only of the person by to whom /to which/ the matter of corruption the efficient cause of corrupt dependence and habitually undue obsequiousness is administered, there remains another mind bearing part of the business, viz the mind of him, if any, by which the matter of corruption is administered.

But, as hath already been remarked to produce the effect of corruption, and in its greatest quantity /to the greatest extent/, and highest degree of perfection, there needs no special corruptor no special act of corruption: by a preestablished harmony[?] corruption takes place of itself.

If haply there be any such special corruptor, and in so far as he is active in the business, this special corruptor being the Minister, or at least a Minister is always himself a Member: and under the existing system of corruption, in /to/ his case the same curious and subtle psychological and casuistical questions apply as we have seen applying to a person in the same situation but instead of the /an/ active as here acting a passive part.

If he by whom what is done is always done, does not on this occasion in his own eyes do wrong, the probability does not seem great that in the eyes of him say the Minister by whom, to the production of this really but not supposed /wrong, but not improbable/ wrong, it is not necessary unless by accident that any thing /not[?]/ should be done, the probability does not seem great, that in his eyes what wrong may come /fall/ by himself in /on/ this behalf /occasion/ to be committed, should paint itself in any very glowing /flagrant/ colours.
Similar Items
  • Title: [30 Dec r 1809 Parl y. Reform]
    Description: 30 Dec r 1809

    Parl y. Reform

    Ch.6 Parl. Corruption I. Members

    '. Corruptor Course[?]

    Corruption continued

    3. Corruptor's[?] mind[?]

    22

    3

    If to keep the so corrupted mind /dependent member in question/ in such his[?] state of habitual corruption and corrupt dependence no act whatsoever, on the part of him by whom the situation of special corruptor where there is one is occupied, has been performed, the most delicate /nervous/ casuistry can not surely find any imputation to cast upon the probity of the Minister in this case.

    But suppose some special intimation of the course which on this or that occasion it is the desire of the Minister to see taken by the supposed obsequious Member, communicated: as for example one of the common circular letters, by which a particular occasion /subject/ is pointed out, accompanied by an intimation that in the eyes of the Minister the importance of it is such as to have produced the wish of seeing a full attendance.

    In a course of this sort is there any thing susceptible of any such appellation /appellative/ as wicked or immoral or wicked or unconscientious or improper or dishonest /wicked/? If so, then is it a dishonest act to become a Minister: which being admitted, a consequence is that there ought to be no such person as a Minister, and so no such state of things as government.

    For doing what it is impossible he should think wrong you can never with truth be a man dishonest: nor if you could would /could/ it answer any good purpose.

    But /Yet/ were the state of things produced by so extensive a state of habitual dependence has been shewn to be in a high degree innoxious to the interest of the community at large, in a high degree mischievous " a great political evil" and "a great public grievance".
  • Title: [25 Dec r 1809 + '2 Parl y Reform]
    Description: 25 Dec r 1809 + '2

    Parl y Reform

    Ch.6. Parl. Corruption Member[?]

    ' 3.1 Corruptor, King

    2 dependents mind

    5

    1

    '.2. Mischief to the mind of the individual corrupted - habitual insincerity.

    The mind - the mind of the individual on this occasion - is the seat of that depravity which on this occasion affords so much matter of lamentation to the hypochondriac and the hypocrite.

    For the statement Of the effect of the disorder on the mind of the Member neither will there be much to say /will many words be necessary/.

    In so far as by the Member in question /himself/, this sort of dependence and habitual obsequiousness is either {unnoticed} unreflected upon, or believed to be right, in so far the moral part of his mental frame is not injured by it.

    Admitting therefore that in so comporting himself he does wrong, yet forasmuch as to himself /to his own eyes/ he appears not to be doing wrong, he will not for the wrong, what he does unknowingly /he does/ in this case be the more likely to do wrong knowingly in another. But unfortunately in this case is comprized the whole field of legislation and government: and the measure being given, and that by the supposition a wrong one, in what part of the frame the cause of the worst[?] /wrong/ be to be looked over, - whether in the moral or the intellectual, does not seem to be of any great importance.

    {Note well that it is only at the expence of the intellectual part that the moral part of the frame can be [...?]}
  • Title: [3 Dec r 1809 '.4 Parl y Reform]
    Description: 3 Dec r 1809 '.4

    Parl y Reform

    Influence

    Ch.1. Explanations

    '.4 Corruption

    (7 or before) 1

    2?

    In every instance of corruption there are two parts noted: that of the corruptor /him by whom/, and that of him who is corrupted /to whom the matter of corruption is administered/. These two parts there will be frequent occasion to distinguish: in the one case /on the one part/ the corruption has been said to be active; in the other, passive.

    Even in /where the corruption is of/ the active kind, the part taken by the corruptor is in many if not most instances such as in the stage[?] may be termed inactive: [...?] to produce whatever effect can be aimed at by the corruption it is not /may perhaps never be/ necessary that on his part any explicit discourse or deportment /active line of conduct/ should be uttered /exhibited/, that in a word any thing should be done.

    When by corruption the effect it aims at is produced, it is by means of a particular species contract of a particular species entered into for that purpose.

    In point of possibility /the nature of the case/ this, like any other contract, is, in respect of the course taken for the communication between mind and mind, capable alike of being either[?] express or implied. Express however, this like many other sorts of contracts it scarce ever is in point of practice.

    When a man bespeaks of his shoemaker a pair of shoes, what he says to him make me another pair of shoes: what he does not say to him is - and when you have sent them to me together with your bill, I will pay you, as I have been used to do, the fair value. This would be superfluous a mere waste of words.