6 June 1810.

Influence

Ch. Systems

'.3. Popular best

10

3

3

Nor is the state of monarchy so bad as that of despotism

Compare antient Greece[?], with modern.

The intellectual imperfection from which, if in dernier resort the business of government be reserved in the hands of the many misgovernment is apprehended as a weakness which not only admitts of, but is every day {receiving} /{experiencing}/ /enjoying the benefit of/ a remedy.

The political state which the general question has more particularly in view is the British empire. The influx of misgovernment from this cause depends 1. upon the deficiency of their information on the subject of those matters of fact on an acquaintance with which good government Depends; 2. upon the influence of certain sophisms, by which, principally through the medium of the passions, in the character of causes of inflammation, the judgment of the many is exposed to be misled.

But for centuries past the proportion of intelligence the quantity of information possessed by the many has been upon the encrease, and in no part of the time has the encrease been more rapid than in the course of the last half century.

What is more, it is in the power of government in a prodigious degree and in a variety of ways to give assistance and speed to this encrease. The encrease it has received hitherto it has received rather in spite of their endeavours than by means of them: so far as concerns them it has had for its cause not so much their good will as their weakness or their negligence.

What would it be if the benefit even of their good will were added to it?