21 Jan y. 1810

Parl y. Reform

Ch.2.

'.2 Influence why

3

Your object The /An/ object you have in view being to reconcile men to the practice of corruption influence is accordingly the name /appellation/ you take always to employ in speaking of it.

Under the name of corruption it would be hazardous and unecessary to speak any good of it, to say any thing betokening /that betokened/ approbation of it.

Under the name of influence you may say as much in defence and approbation of it as you please.

{Should an adversary should he take you up and say /ask/ to you -} What? Corruption? You do not mean to defend corruption, do you? Should any such question come across you, your answer is ready - Oh no: that is undue influence: what is undue it never is any purpose to defend. What? defend it the use not the abuse of influence. "the legitimate rights of influence." +

Should the question be - {Is it in any instance your meaning to defend} the conduct of him who being a Member of Parliament or a parliamentary Elector suffers in the exercise of such his function his will to be influenced by any other will - is this a conduct which in any instance you approve of and mean to defend? to a question put in those terms it might not be altogether so easy to you to find an answer. But in any such terms nobody has ever yet put it to you, and it is not any business of yours to put it to yourself.

+ Speaker p.867.