[...?] Feb y 1808

Powers Se

[...?...?] Commission

Want of power

'. 15[?] Want of power for compelling evidence /as to evidence/.

Another circumstance which has not contributed to encrease ny confidence in the success in this commission is the laxity of it on the subject of powers for enquiry - coercive powers.

When a man sits about instituting one enquiry not the mode of conducting business in any department of government, especially one which has been the subject of complaint, he naturally, if he be in [...?], sits himself to consider from whence and by what means the information is to be obtained. For this purpose the intended informants are [...?...?] by him into two classes /rendered in his imagination in two [...?]/: the unwilling and the willing. In the unwilling [...?] he may make sure of finding every individual whose interest will in the conception of the individual be prejudiced in any shape or degree by the disclosure: together with an uncertain admixture of those to whom it may happen to find themselves moved[?] to taciturnity or misrepresentation by any consideration of sympathy, point of honour or caprice.

In the business of judicature be the matter at stake ever so inconsiderable, amount[?] of danger, if any, giving a shilling, powers /a shilling, to the Judge moreover, a percentage ever so obscure/ coercive powers for coming at the truth are never grudged. When the matter at stake is /may/ /In the purpose of legislation, whose [...?] have/ in respect of extent and largeness of scale, /point of importance, as resulting from/, be without exaggeration[?] by [...?] boundless, and the trustworthiness of the persons he entrusted with power for the [...?] purpose, has for its [...?] the faculty of special [...?] it is that the necessary power is grudged.