date

6 Sep. 1809 + '.2 Parl y Reform
6 Sep. 1809 + '.2

Parl y Reform

'.2 Uncorruption self-meliorative

B.III. Influence &c

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8

1

9

1

'.2. Under the system of uncorruption every thing tends /things tend[?]/ to grow better and better.

So much for the principle and system of corruption. Now for the principle and system of incorruption. Where is the harm in it?

If in corruption there be any thing bad and dangerous, and by those who insisting on the admitting of it admitt the limitation of it this can not very easily be desired[?] of a corruption than to any thing bad and dangerous - it is a property (it has been seen) of the system of corruption of every system which for its continuance or its action depends upon corruption to be growing worse and worse.

Under this system the great objection is that the people will have their own way: and though it be only about their own business that they will have their own way, yet this is what they ought not to have, seeing that they are not fit for it.

But why not fit for it?

Is it that they will pursue a wrong interest? and in so doing act a dishonest part?

This is exactly what is impossible. If all interests are compared without which the system of representation is neither what it ought to be nor what it is intended to be all that each man has to do is to pursue his own interest, his own particular interest if he has any and if he pleases, then in the second place or in default of particular interest general and public interest, {this[?]} or what to him appears such /he takes to be so/.

But in so doing in dishonest part does he /do they/ take but in honest one[?]. Take this or that individual his interest and his duty may be but too widely different. Take all individuals in the aggregate their duty and their interest are exactly the same thing. It is their duty to pursue their interest: pursuing their interest they thereby /in so far/ fulfill their duty.

[Marginal note:] Semper eadem
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    '. Corrupt[?] syst[?] preparative

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    To what end admitting representation of the people, if unfit?

    What[?] admitt them only to be corrupted.

    Ch. 18. Systems of Corruption and Uncorruption compared

    '.1. Under the system of Corruption, leads to worse and worse

    Of two principles or springs of action - /both not only/ applicable and /but/ applied to the purpose /business/ of government - which demands the preference? that which is continually growing /making thin/ worse and worse or that which is continually growing /making things/ better and better?

    The principle which is continually growing worse and worse is the principle of corruption: the /that/ principle which dictates /prescribes/ /enjoins/ the continuing in a continued state of corruption an efficient /the ordinary/ majority of the representatives of the people.

    The principle which is continually growing better and better is the principle of uncorruption: that principle which dictates /prescribes/ /enjoins/ the placing the representation of the people in that state whatsoever it may in which as small a number as possible none at all, if it be possible may find themselves in that state.

    Under the principle of corruption, the King and his dependents have at their disposal for their own use and for others use more money and power /of the peoples money, and more power at the peoples expence/ than they need or ought to have: of this they employ a certain part in corrupting the representatives of the people: the representatives of the people that there may be more and more money and power to be disposed of /distributed/ in this same manner among themselves and their corruptors (most of them too being at the same time corruptors and corrupted) put more and more of the people's money with more and more of the power exercised at the expence of the people at the joint disposal of themselves and their corruptors: having thus got more of the matter of good and object of desire in both these intimately connected shapes, they thus have at command a still greater /an additional/ quantity of this pretious matter to imploy in the same manner and apply to the same purposes.
  • Title: [6 Sep. 1809 Parl y Reform I]
    Description: 6 Sep. 1809

    Parl y Reform

    I Necessity

    '. Kings dependence necessary

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    Aye, but they don't understand their interest: and there the great mischief lies. Constantly Blind to their interest, they require to be constantly led by those who can see.

    Blind to their interest for the moment, be it so: but if to their interest they are at present blind it is as new-born puppies are blind, blind for want of a little age and exercise in the art of seeing not of those who have lost their eyes.

    If it be in the power of information - appropriate information - to open men's eyes and by degrees, and if not to remove to relieve /mitigate/ at least this blindness, the more information they receive the less and less inaccurate will be by degrees their conception of this interest of theirs: and be the rate of progress ever so slow some progress at any rate they will make.

    The system of uncorruption would therefore howsoever slowly yet constantly be growing the better: while with equal constancy, with whatsoever degree of rapidity, with equal constancy at least the system of corruption will be growing worse and worse.

    Under the system of corruption As the people are making their advances in the track of information and intelligence, their rulers, reciprocally corruptors and corrupted, will be on that same track making theirs. But, for those advances the system what will it be the better? On the contrary it will be but so much the worse. They will /With the information they will/ acquire more skill more dexterity. But this additional dexterity to what end and purpose will they apply it to the advancement of what interest will they apply it? By the very supposition, not of the public interest: that is not the interest to the promotion of which their exertions /endeavours/ are directed: not of that, but if that particular and sinister interest of theirs, in the pursuit of which to the prejudice of the public interest the corruption consists, and to the promotion of which the continually accumulating mass of the matter of corruption /money and power/ is continually applied.
  • Title: [7 Aug. 1809 Parl. Reform Ch]
    Description: 7 Aug. 1809

    Parl. Reform

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    13

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     Formulary[?] - 1 I see - 2 d. I see (tracing out from Scott, Ellenboro' &c the money produced by corruption & others vice)

    "Instead then[?] of asserting absolutely" (continues he) " that the Dependence of parliament, in every degree, is an infringement of British liberty, the Country-party should have made some concessions to their adversaries, and have examined what was the proper degree of that dependence, beyond which it became dangerous to liberty."

    Very curious concessions indeed! profound policy to make /have made/ them! sapient advice to have advised them. On the part of one of his favourites a dishonest or interested man, an insincere man yes: a very /perfectly/ consistent and suitable line to pursue to place the question on the footing of one that never could be determined, and on /in regard to/ which it would be at all times open to every man upon every occasion to take that side and that course which for the moment might seem to him most conducive to his own personal interest, leaving that of the country to be promoted or denied by the decision, as it might happen.

    {With all his ingenuity, There was something about this man that rendered him never so happy, as when he had involved a question in what seemed to him interminable doubts: and all the most strenuous exertions of his mind seem to have been those which were directed to this end.}

    A more idle enquiry /errand/ than this about which he was for setting all men about, and of both /all/ parties, seems to me not capable of being imagined /imaginable/.