6 Jan y 1810

Parl y. Reform

Influence

Ch. 17 Mischief & Disrepute

'.2. Mischievousness I. Member

11

3

In regard to the situation of Member, of the several different modifications of parliamentary corruption which it seemed of use to distinguish and bring to view, the order in the scale of mischievousness seemed to be as follows: viz. Case is[?] Modification the first, occupying the highest place: corruption having for its effect, on the part of the Member an habitual state of Court or ministerial dependence. The corruption or corrupt state of the Member's mind habitual, the influence of the mater of corruption applied to it having for its effect /fruit/ the placing and keeping him /his mind/ in a state of undue and corrupt dependence on the Corrupter General, the King, his agents and subordinates and agents: thence his conduct in a correspondently habitual state of undue obsequiousness.

2. Modification the second. The corruption or corrupt state of the Member's mind habitual, as before, the influence of the matter of corruption applied to it having for its effect /fruit/ the placing and keeping his mind in a state of undue and corrupt dependence on the particular corruptor, viz. the patron of the seat.

The title which the first mentioned of these two modifications of parliamentary corruption has to a higher place than the other in the scale of mischievousness will not easily be disputed.

{ In the former case the dependence with the consequent obsequiousness is assured and long continued, lasting as long as the parliament lasts, and the undueness of both being it rendered equally certain and lasting by the necessary predominance of sinister interest on the part of the King and his dependent subordinates and agents, coupled with power sufficient /adequate/ to the purpose of pursuing that sinister interest with constantly considerable effect.}