[036-193v]

1821 May 19

Codification Offer

'.5. Draughtsman single

Occupied in the sort of business here in question, a Board - a Commission, as above, are organs of the will of a Monarch: a Committee, of the will of an aristocratical body. Of the influence which this difference will make in the character of the draught, intimation has been already given. But the draughtsmen are in both cases more than one: from this circumstance spring effects which belong to both cases in common, and which come now to be brought to view.

As to the sort of political implement in question - call it Board - call it Commission - call it Committee (a) - of its distinctive character intimation has already been given [...?] on more occasions and in more places than one. A Board is a screen: a folding-screen: a screen for mal-practice in every shape: a screen to the evil-doer from the eventually penal and beneficially restrictive force of public opinion: an instrument for the diminution of effective responsibility: the penal impression being rendered fainter and fainter by every addition made to the number of the Members: of the strata, of folds, of which if this be the image employed the instrument may be considered as composed. " Not in me but in those others is the fault": such, of each of them, is the assertion: and falsity of this assertion, how compleatly so ever false, seldom if ever, can any sufficient proof be forced into legal day-light.

(a) Note (a) see on the next page