date

8 Oct r 1809 Parl y Reform
8 Oct r 1809

Parl y Reform

B I Necessity

Ch. Occasional inadequate

§.1. Changes how produced

3

3

Such being by supposition the effect, the cause by which and mode in which it has

been /was/ produced must have been near[?] about as follows—

For the ten years all but a few days—say for the ten years all but a month the King

having had in his dependence such a proportion of the members in ordinary attendance

as shall on each individual occasion have constituted a sufficiently great /abundant/

majority, all the measures that have been carried into effect within that time have

followed the determination /direction/ of his private /personal/ /single/ will. But

now within a month of the conclusion of the ten years symptoms of dissatisfaction on

the part of the people have grown to such an height that changes begin to take place

in the ordinary composition of the House of Commons

1. One set of /Some of the/ Members who under the general notion of supporting

government in whatsoever hands lodged had without having reaped /reaped or expected

to reap/ from the services of the functionaries in office any considerable advantage

been accustomed to take the opinion and will of the rulers for the time being for a

/as and for the/ provisional standard of rectitude, viz. for the sake of saving to

themselves respectively the trouble of applying their minds to each separate

business, observing the /a/ general dissatisfaction encrease, now apply their minds

to the subject, and regarding the members of the existing administration as unworthy

of their confidence, withdraw it accordingly, and commence the habit of voting on the

other side. Friends of government. John [...?]-men. Quietists.

Bell-weather-followers.
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    Description: 29 Dec r. 1809

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    Ch. 17. Opposition no security

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    Whose [...?] fear of not continuing: viz an account of unpopularity men of note refuse offers.

    When by the multitude or importance of the instances of misrule that have been manifested, disputes /discontent/ [...?] within and without doors has risen to a certain pitch, and thereby in the breasts of the secret advisers of the Crown a certain quantity of uneasiness /uneasiness to a certain amount/ has been created, then it is that it becomes a question whether to retain the existing administration, or to look out for some other hands in which to vest the details of government.

    If On any occasion of this sort as on almost every occasion he finds a party already in existence: in each House of Parliament, and in particular in the most efficient House a set of men habituated /accustomed/ to act in concert - to apply their conjunct forces in opposition to every measure of the existing administration by the opposing of which any degree of dissatisfaction promises to be excited either within doors or without doors: either in the body of the people, or among /in/ the comparatively small number of Members who for the purpose of an eventual junction with the /such/ Opposition preserve /have preserved/ a sufficient degree of independence
  • Title: [8 Oct r 1809 Parl y Reform]
    Description: 8 Oct r 1809

    Parl y Reform

    1 Necessity

    Ch. Occasional inadequate

    §.1. Changes how produced

    2

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    Intervention better than nothing at all. Blackst. IV. C.11. p.147

    Interventions[?] were constantly recurring[?]: then[?] not.

    The sort of faculty which in this respect they possess is certainly better than none

    at all: since on the part of the body any the least facility for giving expression to

    the sentiments of the people is better than none at all. But that, in the character

    of a security /preservative/ against misrule or so much as in the character of a

    security against arbitrary power, this faculty of occasional interposition is far

    from being /approaching to the nature of/ an equivalent to a regularly-recurring

    interposition on the part of the same authority, will /is a proposition /are truths/

    that will I trust/ be the more clearly perceptible the more closely the subject is

    considered.

    It is nothing like a sufficient /altogether insufficient and inefficient in the

    character of a/ security against habitual misrule /it will be seen to be altogether

    insufficient and even inefficient/: and being so, it would not be enough, though it

    were sufficient in the character of a security against a /the/ compleat overthrow of

    the constitution by arbitrary power: which it will also be seen not to be.

    Three or four times in a century this /such/ interposition or the apprehension of it

    may have the effect of producing a change in administration: which change may be for

    the better or the worse.

    But for the sake of clear conceptions let us admitt /it be admitted/ that a change

    of this sort will by this cause be produced ten times in the course of a century:

    upon an average once in every ten years: and that upon each occasion an

    administration which though, as proved by its continuance in office, acceptable to

    the King, will have been justly odious /odious, and justly so/ to the people, will

    have given place to another administration either popular or less unpopular.
  • Title: [8 Oct r 1809 Parl y Reform]
    Description: 8 Oct r 1809

    Parl y Reform

    B. I. Necessity

    Ch. Occasional inadequate

    §.2. Changes, inadequate

    9

    4

    If their will were with any degree of regularity and constancy their will were

    called forth into exercise, then and then only it would be worth their while {to

    qualify themselves for the task} to put and keep their minds /understandings/ in a

    state of fitness for the task. There and then the art of exercising their will in

    relation to this part of their business /executing this part of their business/ with

    advantage to themselves would occupy a regular part of their attention would

    constitute a part of their study, would occupy an adequate part of their social

    intercourse: would form even a part of their education at the dawn of manhood.

    At present /As it is/ /In the present state of things/ it is but once in a course of

    years that any such call upon the people for the exercise of their judicial faculties

    has place. What is the consequence? That of the documents of the body of evidence

    bearing upon the question scarce a hundredth part meets their eyes: and when it does

    it finds their judgment inert /awkward/ and impotent /feeble/ for want of exercise.

    Their affections as hath just been seen are in that state in which they are most apt

    to delude /draw astray/ /pervert / their judgment, and their judgment is in that

    state in which it is most apt /liable/ /exposed/ to be perverted.

    [In margin:] the thread of events has not been carried on /wound up/ regularly in

    their minds /a man’s mind/: