JB_127_330.xml

Title: [1818 March 28 Parl. Ref. Bill]

Description: 1818 March 28

Parl. Ref. Bill

Reasons

{III} Electors - Who

Reading Qualification

Reason

3

3

True it is that even as in this respect matters stand at present so it is, that taking into account the distinction between self-formed judgment and derived or derivative judgment, even the least informed among the people are not wholly debarred from the means of forming in relation to the matters in question a sort of judgment not altogether inapplicable to the purpose: a sort of judgment such, as doth not in respect of the quantity and degree of [...?] to which it stands exposed, present against plan for [...?] in a set of hands which in so large a proportion can under the description the power here proposed as /so/ strong an objection in relation to the hands in /by/ which the power of government are /is/ at present lodged /exercised/ is formed by that sinister interest to the ache[?] of which they stand exposed, by that sinister interest of the operation of which as it ever has so in the nature of man it never can fail to have for its effect the succession[?] - the all-[...?] and continent [...?] of the universal interest to that particular and sinister interest.

JB_127_328.xml

Title: [1818 March 28 + '.2 Parl. Ref. Bill]

Description: 1818 March 28 + '.2

Parl. Ref. Bill

'.2. Electors Who

Reading Qualification

Reason

1

1

Reason for the writing part of the Qualification, the more clearly established the distinction in case of synonymation[?].

Question Why narrow the right of voting to that degree in which it can not fail to be narrowed by the requisition of any such qualification as that her termed the reading qualification, or qualification by reading?

Answer 1. To obviate and do away the /that/ /an/ objection which will be sure /can not fail/ to be objected /played off/ /opposed/ against the whole plan, - and that in the character of a radical objection - viz. the objection on the ground of want /deficiency in respect/ of intellectual aptitude.

In the character even of a conclusive objection - in the character of a plea in bar as the lawyers phrase it, that objection can not be deemed to be in a considerable degree plausible.

In /As[?]/ the character of a cause of increase to the danger, and a cause of /as well as that of/ diminution to the benefit of the desired /proposed/ reform, it can not be deemed to be in a considerable degree substantial - to be more than merely plausible.

Of a man's exercising this right with advantage to that universal interest of which his own personal interest constitutes a part, but no more than a part, no well grounded hope or expectation can be entertained, any further than the means of forming a correct conception in relation to that same interest are in his hands. But the means of forming such conceptions are composed almost exclusively of written, viz. mostly of printed documents. By the faculty of reading he is put in possession of his faculty of forming such conception at all times, to the extent of the applicable leisure which he has in his possession, and the expense necessary to the procuring a perusal of these same means.

JB_127_329.xml

Title: [1818 March 28 Parl. Ref. Bill]

Description: 1818 March 28

Parl. Ref. Bill

Reasons

{III} Electors - Who

Reading Qualification

Reason

2

2

Even in the present state of the press - even under the present disadvantages /difficulties, natural and factitious /mischievously and maliciously/ together/ under which that matchless instrument of communication between mind and mind labours at present, so it is that in so far as perusal without permanent possession suffices scarcely can that individual how indigent so ever be found but that in /to/ a considerable degree, by the kindness of friendly [...?] minds of /on/ his own level the means of forming to a degree of sensation little short of adequate are or might be if they are not already placed within his reach.

But a sorry state of things, be it what it may, in which any such plan of reform as the present is in other respects should /shall/ have obtained establishment, these means could not fail to be brought within the reach of all hands whatsoever not excepting the most indigent those whose misfortune it is at the very time to be struggling /labouring/ under the pressure of the extremest /most pressing/ indigence. In the eyes of the religionist no hand that has an eye belonging to it / that can read/ is too mean to receive to receive, and with the book itself the hope of profiting by it - the Bible. But, for /to/ the purpose of instructing a man in that which in respect of the management of the temporal part of stable[?] affairs at this present time is his interest strange indeed it were if books could not now be written such as /the number of which/ shall be at least as near to the level of ordinary conceptions, as the matter of that second volume at ever so extensive /copious/, and so replete with mysteries no less abstruse and recondite[?] than awful and tremendous /formidable/.

[Marginal note:]  there indicate the topics?

In relation to every branch of government without exception {the hand /person/ by which this present work is penned} /a man might at that time of day/ well even with the fullness of assurance venture to undertake for the rendering /conveying/ to every man or reader[?] a conception of what will be most conducive to his share in the universal interest a conception more nearly approximating to an adequate one than any conception which the same man can reasonably be expected to frame to himself in relation to his everlasting interest from the book of Revelations and the Epistles of Saint Paul put together, whether naked text alone, or text and comments of all sorts be taken into the account.