1818 Sept. 9 A

Picture of Misrule things as they ought to be

Appendix

Borough Mongers

§.1. Why not attacked by J.B.

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Power of the Borough-mongers – why not here stated /held up to view/ as the principal power against which the reformists have to contend?

In speaking of the powers against which the system of radical Parliamentary reform has to contend against, the power of a certain description of persons under the name of Borough-mongers is that which of late years the advocates of reform have to a great extent been in use to hold up to view in the character of the principal power if not the only one: as if there were a determinate set of men to and by whom not only the King but the House of Lords are /were/ held in subjection, in such sort that instead of being a mixt Monarchy the government is a sort of aristocracy – an aristocracy, the Members of which are /which has for its Members/ the persons the individuals who ever they are who are to be considered as comprehended under that name.

Of an enquiry of which this conception has been the subject the result has been that the representation /this conception/ given by it is not /wants much of being/ upon the whole /not/ a correct one; that errors are included in it and that of /among/ the errors included in it, there are /the natural /practical/ result is some the effect of which, if acted upon would be to lead the mind aside from the course best adapted to the purpose of applying the most advantageous remedy, and such errors the /an/ effect of which if not corrected might have a disadvantageous effect /exercise a disadvantageous influence/ on argument and practice.