date

1818 Dec r. 15 Parl Reform Bill
1818 Dec r. 15

Parl Reform Bill

Dialogue

Preliminary View

1

5

Anti / Non/-Reformist Well now then for your proof from theory.

Reformist. My proof from theory is shortly this: that whereas in every human breast

self-regarding affection is stronger than social affection, the /to/ sacrifice of

every others interest to his own, in so far /opposition/ as any competition and

incompatibility has place, is the endeavour of every /a/ man in power the endeavour,

and to the extent of that power the practice, and that accordingly in so far as the

whole power of a state is in the hands of a few, the sacrifice /habitual and constant

sacrifice/ of the interest of the subject many to the interest of those same ruling

few is a necessary consequence: and that if by misrule any thing be meant,

proportioned to the amount of such sacrifice is the degree of misrule – the extent to

which it is carried.

Anti / Non/-Reformist. In every human breast self-regarding

interest stronger than social? – Is not this a very uncomfortable picture /account/

of the state /compass[?]/ of the human mind? of the condition of human nature?

Reformist. Were it ever so uncomfortable an one that would be no reason for

forbearing to bring it /hold it up/ to view, supposing it a true one – Upon

examination of the /a patient’s/ constitution of a patient, suppose it the opinion of

his medical adviser that it were a weakly one, requiring precautions /much care/ to

keep it together, would that be a reason for concealing from him the truth for

telling /assuring/ him that it was strong one, and that he might accordingly do with

it whatever he liked?
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  • Title: [1818 Dec. 15 Parl Reform Bill]
    Description: 1818 Dec. 15

    Parl Reform Bill

    Dialogue

    Preliminary View

    2

    6

    In a word, to deny this predominance is /would be/ to deny that man is man. To

    complain of it is /would be/ to complain that man is man. /that the species is in

    existence, and the complainer himself is part of it./ For – what think you? suppose

    the case reversed – suppose in each man social affection stronger than

    self-regarding, what would be the consequence? think you that the condition of the

    species would be improved? /in any better plight?/ On the contrary, the species /it/

    would be annihilated. Examine /look a little/ into the matter, place the strongest

    affection for self in any other breast than that of self, you will find this to be

    the case. Suppose the case otherwise, you will see, and I believe /trust[?]/ not /and

    perhaps not/ without astonishment the absurdities that would follow /some surprize,

    how monstrous the absurdities are/ To go into any details on this subject /To bring

    any of them to view in detail/ would be a : {it would relation had to the present

    purpose /enquiry/ be irrelevant: it would be a digression:} /much too wide./ and we

    have work enough to do in going strait forward, without turning /running/ aside into

    digressions. A slight sketch of those absurdities – and a very slight sketch you will

    find sufficient is contained in a paper /an Essay/ I have drawn up on this subject,

    and which if you are disposed to look at it is altogether at your service. + of them, if you are /should it now happen to you to be/ so

    disposed will form quite matter enough for a conversation apart.

    Anti / Non/-Reformist. Well: uncomfortable as /it is to think

    of/ this state of things is to think of, for the purpose of the argument at any rate

    let us suppose it to be true. But if it were so would not this proof /argument/ prove

    too much? would it not prove that all government is misrule? that the English

    Constitution even with radical reform would be – that even a Representative Democracy

    such as those we see in the Anglo-American United States is misrule?

    + See Appendix N o 1
  • Title: [1818 Sept. 29. Parl. Reform Bill]
    Description: 1818 Sept. 29.

    Parl. Reform Bill

    + VIII or VII

    Reasons 3 o

    '.2. Electors Who

    Universality

    1. Probity

    {14}

    18

    {28 No human breast has there ever been in which at times[?] sympathetic affection in some degree has not had place: no human breast in which taking the whole of life together, self-regarding affection has not been predominant. For a time under some particular excitation in this or that human breast sympathetic affection has to such a degree been predominant as to have produced sacrifice of self-regarding interest in the shape of sacrifice of life. But the nearer to self the objects, and the less the number of them, the greater the intensity of them: as the objects become distinct and more and more numerous, as the field in which they are included becomes wider and wider, the intensity of the affection dominates, till at last in all but a very few the affection has no resistance but in name.}

    Of this universal and immutable /unchangeable/ predominance, note the equally unchangeable consequences in regard to forms of government.

    In the situation of Monarch there will be a constant and constantly predominant propensity, propensity and endeavour to sacrifice to self-regarding interest, and to social interest upon the largest scale, that is to say universal interest.

    2. In the situation of member of an aristocratical governing body there will in like manner be on /in/ the part /breast/ of every member a constant and constantly predominant propensity to sacrifice to the self-regarding interest of the individual, and thence to the collective interest of the whole body social interest on the largest scale.

    3. In the situation of Member of a Democratical assembly of Representatives chosen and seated upon the principle of virtually universal suffrage there will in like manner be on the part /breast/ of every Member a propensity to sacrifice to the self regarding interest of the individual and thence to the collective interest of the Assembly whole body social interest on the largest scale.
  • Title: [1819 Jan y 12 Parl Reform Bill]
    Description: 1819 Jan y 12

    Parl Reform Bill

    Dialogue V

    Preliminary View

    Evils & Remed

    Remedies

    Corruptibility

    Annuality

    10

    1

    52

    {33}

     This last under Miselection

    Anti-Reformist. Well, you have got your set of Representatives all of them according

    to you chosen by the most proper set of persons /Electors/, and the body of which

    according to you the assembly composed of them will form a third part, is the

    Parliament, the two other parts being, still according to you, the House of Lords and

    the Monarch. Things being thus, still there will be a mass of patronage immense /more

    or less vast/ in quantity and value and that patronage, all or most of it in the

    hands of the Monarch, as at present.

    Reformist. Assuredly that would be the case, at any rate at the outset, and for a

    considerable length of time, ultimately what parts of it will of necessity remain in

    these same royal hands, I am not of myself disposed at present to enquire, nor do I

    suppose that you have any particular wish I should.

    Anti-Reformist. Certainly not: its being so in /at/ the outset is quite sufficient

    for me. In every human breast self regarding interest /affection is predominant/ in

    one or other of its shapes – or in all of them put together is predominant. It

    predominates over social or sympathetic affection in all its degree of extent and in

    particular in that degree of extent in which it is coextensive with the country or

    say the political state to which a man belongs. Well then, let the social or

    sympathetic affection, the social affection having the interest of the mans country

    for its object say what it may, there is the Monarch with his everlasting sinister

    interest in his breast /bosom/, and his inexhaustible purse in his hand, with not

    money only but power and factitious dignity, both sweetened with ease ad libitum, and

    occasionally /upon occasion/ with vengeance ever ready to buy over your

    Representatives to the support of that same sinister, and these same Representatives,

    according to you, ever ready to be bought.