date

[Copyist's hand] 1818 July 23
[Copyist's hand]

1818 July 23

Parl Ref Bill

Reasons

II. Electors who

Universality

6

3

22

In the Introduction to the Plan of Parliamentary Reform a sort of eventual prediction was hazarded that in the case of radical reform, and that carried even to the length of universal suffrage, the class of men, out of which Representatives will be chosen will not be any class which to the antireformists need be or even actually is, as such, an object of apprehension. In support of this prediction the Authority there appealed to, was that of experience: uniform and notorious experience. Men already distinguished by wealth, by power by rank by reputation: such are the men out of whom (it it there said) the choice has ever hitherto been made: such therefore are the men out of whom it would /will/ continue to be made. In addition to this intimation was at the same time given of a class of men in whom howsoever the objects of esteem in other respects those brilliant endowments are not any of them to be found. For illustration an Instance was given of a nomination which being that of a Man belonging to the medical profession was on that account even by those to whom he was on other accounts an object of love and respect, put aside as ridiculous.
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  • Title: [[Copyist's hand] 1818 July 23]
    Description: [Copyist's hand]

    1818 July 23

    P

    Reasons

    II. Electors who

    Universality

    7

    4

    23

    Experience has since the date of that publication enabled the argument to go still further. In the character of Representatives under the proposed plan think of the number that will be necessary to be got together and all along kept up for the production of mischief in any of the shapes in which you apprehend it: out of 668, 335. Now then judging from experience of this number 335 can any reasonable ground be found for the supposition that so much as a single man would be chosen out of any such class or description of men as in your eyes has been an object of terror, or a source of uneasiness. Look to the author of the Political Register and so many other forcibly written and widely disseminated tracts: look once more to the Spa-fields Orator. To both these, to each in his several walk[?] of eloquence you ascribe[?], in addition to the strongest desire imaginable a capacity for producing political mischief: a capacity which in the Instance of the Writer at least you yourselves can scarcely say has ever yet been equalled or can reasonably be expected to be ever exceeded. Well, on the occasion of the late Election these men looked round them every where and no where did they either of them find any the smallest chance of acceptance. As to the Writer he was absent. But the Orator, he was present: present, and with all his might blowing the Coals in what in your view of it, is the very focus of sedition.
  • Title: [1818 March 9. Not Paul I. Argument]
    Description: 1818 March 9.

    Not Paul

    I. Argument

    Ch. Paul’s Character

    9

    § False predictions

    Prophecy what

    If / By those if any such there be to whom / in whose eyes // truth be in any degree

    an object of regard, if your credence for imposture and that sort of fraud which has

    acquired the name of pious[?] be not a determination / course[?] of conduct /

    absolutely determined on and resolved, strange it is if the time is not at length

    come at which a trial of all these portions of discourse so composedly[?] and

    undistinguishingly exhibited and dwelt on and argued from under the name of prophecy

    shall be made. But in an all-comprehensive or even any extreme scale any scale

    greater than that in which the supposed prophecy referred to is supposed to be

    referred to by our Paul is comprized comes not within the design or the limits of the

    present work.

    Of the portion of discourse to which under the name of prophetic / of prophecy or

    even on no other ground than that of their being so many passages contained in this

    or that one of the books which the Jews were in use to read in their synagogues /

    they not containing any thing in the shape of a prediction Paul appears to have made

    reference nothing more need on this occasion be said than the observation that in

    fact they / nothing / do not contain any thing any thing in the shape of a prediction

    is contained in them.

    By our Paul Really and decidedly in the shape of prediction much was not hazarded.

    But of that / the letter / which was hazarded something may be seen by which in the

    […?] true character of the self-stiled Apostle no small light will be seen cast, a

    prediction of an altogether determinate character, delivered as received in a

    supernatural way from the Almighty by revelation, that prediction compleatly

    falsified: the purpose and object of this false prediction―that purpose a purely

    worldly one at the same time indicated.
  • Title: [[Copyist's hand] 1818 July 23 A]
    Description: [Copyist's hand]

    1818 July 23 A

    Parl. Ref. Bill

    Reasons

    II. Electors Who

    Universality

    18

    At any rate, in the display of the reasons the interests of the Several parties concerned can not be altogether passed over in silence. The utility of the change - the practicability of it - these are topics neither of which will it be possible to keep wholly out of view.

    1. As to the utility of it the parties concerned in point of Interest divide themselves immediately into two classes: to wit, the proposed new proprietors and the actually existing old Proprietors. The change being by the supposition an useful and desirable one, there must be a somebody t least to whom it is so. But this somebody, where is he to be found: the difficulty is to find him any where. In the class of the proposed new proprietors? In the class of those, who, if there were any gainers would be the gainers by the change? Already in that class have we been looking for him and without success. Is it then in the class of those who at the commencement are to lose each of them his all: Saving always to him the right which he will have some months or years after he has been starved to death to put in his claim to his equal share, in the Court of claim which will have been instituted for that purpose.