1819 Sept. 28

Parl. Reform Bill.

Reasons

§.3. Eligible Who

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Numerous are the observations suggested by so long a list of particulars: proportionably ample the space which would be requisite for the bringing them to view. In consideration of the amplitude of this space For the present at least they must therefore be omitted: and the option betwixt acceptance and rejection must be left to stand on the ground of the general principle.

In some instances the inaptitude, being for argument sake supposed, the doubt as between admission and exclusion would turn upon the question of the number that in case of non-exclusion might gain admittance. The cases to which this objection /doubt/ more particularly applies are that of the Lawyer and that of the Clergyman.

As to the Clergyman, by a hereby proposed cause of exclusion, the beneficed Clergyman would stand excluded: namely want of time applicable to the exercise of the legislative function. But to the case of the unbeneficed Clergyman that cause would not extend. In the United Kingdom the exclusion supposed to have been already put upon every man who in the Established Church had entered into the profession, was not long ago confirmed But the occasion shewed that it was as usual in particular interest or affection, and not in regard for the universal interest that the exclusion had its cause.

The antipathy prevailing among the ruling few against Horne Tooke in this may be seen the cause of the division by which men in his condition were excluded not only from a seat in the House but from the profession of the Bar. This is among the cases of that retrospective and essentially unjust species of law which under the name of Common Law is so dear to lawyers and their dupes.

The case of the Lawyer is in this case similar. In the United States, and in particular in the Congress House of Representatives, so far as regards appropriate probity the evil produced by an exuberant number of lawyers I understand from a variety of quarters is very sensible felt: a proportion not less than that of three fourths of the whole number of 181 Members belonging to /being of/ that profession. Hence a general and scarcely resistible propensity and endeavour to keep the rule of action in a state as confused, indeterminate, and uncognizable as possible But the profession of a lawyer is the profession of every man who having no other special occupation devotes his attention exclusively or more particularly to the business of government