[114-031v]

1821 Nov 28 /1822 March 5/

Codification Offer

/'.9. Known whose hand/

2. Note in the second place the Cortes. The Members of that assembly are all of them as such partakers in the above described sinister interest. They are in the aggregate joint possessors in conjunction with the Monarch of the supreme operative power are displaceable every two years by the greatest number in the character of possessors of the supreme constitutive power. But they can not thus be displaced till after they have continued in that their situation for two years: and in the course of those two years they have had time each of them to an indefinite amount to give way and effect to such their sinister interests, by concurring in continuing in the hands of a Monarch the objects /those sources/ of general desire power money and factitious dignity to an amount which it is contrary to the interest of the greatest number that he should possess it: in continuing in his hands this excessive quantity or in adding to it in any proportion. /to any amount./

Against an aristocratical fraud not uncommonly exemplified, some precautionary measure may here be requisite Where in the character of reward, the matter of good in any shape is held up to view in the character of a prize to be earned by literary competition, some man without /who has talent without/ influence is set to perform the task, that some man who has influence without talent may receive the prize.

If antecedently to his being entrusted with a part in the disposal of the aggregate interests of the community every functionary according to the nature of the office were subjected in the face of the community to some appropriate test of aptitude, amongst other good effects, might be that of putting an exclusion upon this species of imposition hopeless.