date

23 Aug 1809 Parl y Reform B
23 Aug 1809

Parl y Reform

B.III Influence &c.

B.III Influence &c.

{Corruption}

8

3

3

The merely corrupt are not in this way: they are brought in Gratis by [...?] or opportunists.

It proves nothing one way or other to a /any/ certainty: but what indications it affords point rather to independence than to dependence, and thence to probity rather than to improbity. In so far as a man /Member/ owes his seat to his money he does not owe it to any human being. He is thus far, and bating /setting aside/ any possible ulterior possible prospects, independent and in so far upright. In so far as he owes his seat to any human being in so far is he dependent, if not by any coarser tie, at the base[?] by the tie of gratitude.

If so it be that he owed his seat to some human being in a word to a patron, that patron is himself either independent or dependent.

If independent, it is well and the dependence of the minimum, dependence as it is presents nothing formidable, nothing that is more likely to be adverse to the interests of the Country than favourable.

If the patron be dependent, then so far as the minister[?] is dependent upon the patron he is dependent in the same way as the patron himself is.

If the patron be dependent (to say nothing of the secret advisors of the Crown) he is so either under and with reference to the Minister or under and with reference to the leader of opposition.

If dependent on the Minister in possession, his situation as to probity is in the worst state. He stands immediately engaged to give his support to all bad measures to any amount the Minister pleases - his opposition to all good ones.

If dependent on the Minister in expectancy, his situation as to probity is not in quite so bad a state, but still it is in a state very unfair in that respect to independence.

Against good measures his opposition will be but occasional, nor even then will it be of any avail: against bad measures the opposition of him and those with whom he acts affords the only check, the only palliative and restraint[?] the nature of the case admitts of.
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    { The voters of a pocket borough those who take no bribes nothing that can be nothing at any rate that ever is called a bribe - these voters are not free: their votes are the property of the patron, who keeps them that is the seat which is the fruit of them to his own use, or makes it over to the Minister in possession or the P. Minister in expectancy, as he sees fit.

    In what precise form are constructed the chains in which they are bound is altogether immaterial: (a) it is sufficient that they are bound: if they were not, the borough would not be what it is supposed to be, a pocket borough.

    Disposed of to an independent man at one time /patron in one parliament/ they are liable to be disposed of to a dependent one, and though him to the Minister actually in possession, or what comes to the same thing to the Minister about to be in possession, in another.

    At all times this state of things /venality/ was bad enough. Now in 1809 it has been made mush worse. Till now a seat of this sort might have been bought for the use of the independent man for a man who for a length of time more or less considerable might have continued in that state.

    Now by the late Act, the market is shut or at any rate is meant and thought to be shut against all independent purchasers. But as towards the Minister it remains avowedly open: he, who by the influence created by the power of nomination and /with or without the power of/ [...?] in regard to the objects of desire in all shapes, that influence the innoxiousness and even the necessity of which has so openly been avowed, allowed openly allowed to purchase, and at all times as many as he can agree with of the representatives of the people.

    (a) Details of the different modes?
  • Title: [25 Jan y. 1810 Parl y Reform]
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    In a former case, viz. in that in which the seat was holden on terms in which by the tie of gratitude or by any other tie the holder was /is/ kept in a state of dependence under a patron, the patron being at least at the time of the acceptance of the seat himself in a state of independence - even in that case, in looking out for the supposed mischief to the mind of the occupier /member/ of the seat, no such /preponderant/ mischief {could be found}. Now at least worth bringing to account in a political view could be found.

    But in that case there might be mischief and yet none in this.

    In that case the state of the Member being a state of dependence - though not under the Corruptor-General, yet at any rate a state of dependence insincerity one of the natural fruits of such dependence insincerity viz. of that sort which consists in a man's hoping against his own opinions - representing as mischievous measures what he believes to be beneficial and vice versâ - will though not a necessary nor even a frequent, be however on this or that occasion, a but too natural result of it.

    Here, no such dependence, {therefore no such insincerity from that cause} therefore no insincerity resulting from dependence: and if there be /exist/ any such man in whose eyes /sight/ sincerity is a virtue, insincerity a vice in his sight, this difference will not be regarded as nothing, in favour of the purchased seat, in preference to a /the/ gratuitous seat.
  • Title: [25 Dec r 1809 ' 6 Parl y Reform Influences]
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    XI

    Olim viz. temp. Gul um, points might be carried by corruption[?] a few individuals: but this was before the King with the royal corruption[?] system was thoroughly established

    Modo[?] nothing could be thus done - Nabob of Arcet[?] his few members where a man who has a seat puts in a friend - it is this case; and what does this do

    {' Corruptor, an individual.}

    {No mischief done but in so far as the corruptor[?] member gives himself to a corrupt administration - viz in possession or in expectancy.}

    {'.6.II Corruptor and individual - 1 Mischief to the public.}

    {We come now to the case where the corruptor the person in whose dependence the Member is placed, or by whom dependent or independent he has been seated is - not the Minister - not the agent of the King, but some insulated individual.}

    Here the act of corruption in so far as on the active side of the transaction any act has had place is in name at least the same, as in the former case: so the immediate result of that act the dependence, if it be a case of dependence. Every thing in last[?] is the same except the consequences - the only material consequences.