1821 July 2

Codification Offer

'. Offer

Accordingly the argument /observation/ which on this occasion he submitts is this - View the situation in which I stand and then consider how far it is likely that I should knowingly or even unknowingly propose any legislative arrangement by which at the expence of the many the particular and sinister interest of the few would be advanced by which for the sake /advantage/ of any one interest or the interest of the few the interest of the many would in any degree be sacrificed. View my situation, compare it with the situation of any other individual by whom with /under/ any probability of obtaining /being regarded as entitled to/ acceptance any such offer could be made, and then say whether by any temptation to which I could /we would respectively/ be exposed to I should be more likely to yield to it than he would be. Situation is every thing: reserve for that your serious /attentive/ consideration: protestation is nothing: keep reserve for /in readiness for every thing of that sort/ your scorn and indignation. Regard it as the attempt /trick/ of sharpers to convert you into their dupes, or at the best and on the supposition of its being sincere, if it be possible that it should be sincere, regard it as the language of one whose /whose gross/ ignorance of human nature subjects him to /places him in/ the power of every fisher of men who to catch him shall think it worth his while to angle for him with this bait. to employ such bait in fishing for him /to be at the expence of such bait for catching him/