1819 May 28.

Disfranchisement

§.4 Evil 3

5

In some districts /this district/, the pair of Terrorists are both of them Tories: in others, both of them Whigs: in others again you see a pair of these corruptionists grinning at each other for form sake, but pigging together in the same mire. In this last case, the scene exhibited is as every body knows in a multitude of instances the result of a partition treaty: a treaty entered into in all the forms of Christianity, to save the effusion not of blood indeed, but of that which is more valuable /better worth/ than blood – money.

On this plan to the purpose of the universal interest – to every public purpose but that of local interest – of comparatively speaking petty interest – such as the proposing or opposing this or that bill or other measure in which some such narrow interests alone are at stake, the district is and in so far the kingdom /whole community/ are without a representative. But the two personal and family interests, and that same extensive sinister interest in /of/ which Toryism and Whiggism are tenants in common – the interest which both parties have in keeping the door fast shut against all efficient reform – this interest is most compleatly served.

The peace of the County if it be a County is now said to be preserved /secured/: and in this treaty, this peace, with that national /public/ happiness which is its inseparable attendant, are of course the only objects in view: patriotism and mutual charity, the only motives by which it has been produced. It /The alliance/ is the new Holy League in miniature: motives the same; object in both instances alike compressible under the same name – legitimacy.

The plain truth /ultimate result/ seems to be – that in the present state of the representation the ultimate result is, the good produced a palpable though not very extensive good: the good excluded, a good, of which an estimate /of which/ seems not very easy to make: – the good which in case of contest might result from the drawing the attention of the people of the district in question to the state of the subjection in which they are held, and of the irresistible sacrifice to which by this sort of coalition, until they shall have the spirit and resolution to think and act for themselves, their common interest is /best interests are/ everlastingly directed.