Jan y 1808

On Lord Eldon's Bill

IV. Sign Manual Commiss

Sign Manual Commission. That it will answer every purpose it was expected or designed to answer I see no reason to dispatch. /For more[?] of [...?], such as the noble and learned Lord's learned advisor powers[?] of/ it will provide comfortable and respectable situations: for a /divers [...?]/ member of men of [...?]. It will make a shew if not having done, at least /any rate/ of doing something, and without prejudice to the learned profession in any of its branches. Under the semblance of cutting down it will pursue[?] the tree[?] /toxico[?]-deciduous[?]/ of [...?], the poison-sale, the tree

of evil without good, and by /so proves it/ pruning[?] it enable it to stake /take/ the former[?] root, and branch out with renovated /augmented/ vigour.

To these /the accomplishment of/ several purposes which if not in /with a certain [...?] good purpose /reform to the interests of the community/, can certainly not be accused /charged/ of /with/ being unnatural ones, there is as little danger of any want of power - intellectual power, as if any want of inclination. In able hands it /the work/ will be done [...?] nature: and according to the measure of this ability, will be clear and comprehensive [...?] of the connection between ends and means. In the most incapable hands /weakest hands guided by the weakest eyes/ it is not /will not be/ exposed to fact. The most that can hasten[?] as to confusion: and by confusion, he[?] [...?] it is, the more compleatly will the [...?] be answered /object be accomplished/: between able hands and [...?] ones, the only [...?] difference will be that the abler the hand by which the confirmation and if possible the [...?] of the mischief is provided for, the less conspicuous will the real tendency of it be, and the more plausible the pretences, should any be deemed necessary, that will be made for covering it.