14 Dec 1807

Scotch reform

Letter [...?]

Ch. 12 [...?...?...?]

[...?] from changes but also[?]

Dangers of questioning judicial practice - law of libels being made by Judges, and [...?] excluded from judging.

With the rage of lord Kenyon, as any[?] data, so my observations end /terminate/. For the not extending them any further I have my reason: and not being in the habit of secresy either in respect of act or of reason these reasons being not of a sort[?] but of a public nature, I will venture with perfect simplicity to submitt them to Your Lordship's consideration.

To Lord Kenyon succeeded Lord Edinburgh. Lord Kenyon is a sage, a sort of a law-soul[?], in human[?]: upon earth he has no longer any other influence than that unapprovable influence which, if any, may be exercised through his prayers In the possession of Lord Edinburgh, with his urbanity, his [...?] with all his virtues intellectual and moral /mature[?] and liberal learning, humanity, and urbanity and suavity[?] and [...?] dignity/.

Now, my Lord /that noble and learned Lord being as the French say pale[?] of life plan[?] device/, as it is, that if for argument sake (and purely for argument sake, for I have taken leave to know nothing about the matter) so it were, that of the things so done by Lord Kenyon any one thing so done by Lord Edinburgh, and that thing wrong, and in another /common/ person presumably[?] wrong, and I were to bring it to light, the person punished who would it be? not the suppozed wrongdoer for doing it, but I for betting on it: and /forasmuch about punishment so applied would this bring according to my [...?] and perhaps [...?] but at any rate sincere[?] and learned[?] reason, be applied contrary to natural justice, I, having a regard for natural justice, not to speak of human prudence, would not be[?] willingly necessary /instrumental/ to the infliction.

I should find myself in the condition of the [...?...?] - who having something that was [...?] by a supremely noble and learned person of his team[?] who was at the head of the [...?] and consequently /as such/ above the law, was so punished for what he had seen[?], that crying out in his [...?] /[...?]/ anguish has aligned[?] ride [...?...?] human fear, he continued in shape of transportation and consequently of repentance to the last day of his life.