1818 April 17

Parl. Reform Bill

Reasons

1 Election Districts

III Judges not to appeal[?]

10

10

{By the Duke of Richmond in his Parliamentary Reform Bill, the task of dividing the country for this purpose into districts was committed to the twelve Judges. As well it might have been committed to the twelve Caesars. Legal Power, inclination, appropriate active talent – of every imaginable requisite was there wanting. the deficiency he might have seen […?] in that exalted station at its maximum. Making the demarcation requisite without the preliminary documents and operations above indicated, could have been making Egyptian bricks without straw: and of no such documents or operations did his plan propose any provision to be made. Of those preeminently learned persons at any rate the office is not exposed to any such charge /reproach/ as that of being a sine-cure, the offices can not be numbered among sinecures: the day on which time could be found by them for any such additional burthen would never be to be found.}

{To no one of them would the thought of bestowing a thought upon any such subject be endurable: no two of them would concurr in the same thought.

Habitually Unanimous in their determination of the response /several responses/ given in relation to each subject /question/ by the oracle by the voice of which goes forth among the people and determines their fate under /by/ the name of Common Law /the voice of which calls itself /is worshipped sometimes by the name of/ Common Law sometimes Equality sometimes Common Law/ unanimously would direct the learned brotherhood the instant a task /swarm of questions all/ so alien to their habits were submitted to their cognizance.

The choice of a site for a Penitentiary was at one time committed to these same learned hands. Simple as was the subject /task/ in comparison of that here in question, before any thing could be agreed, unanimity took her flight from the learned Breasts and year after year the projected seat and instrument of reformation remained without a spot on which to place itself.}