22 Jan y. 1810

Parl y. Reform

Influence

Ch. Mischief

'.1.

3

3

But in the assembly /legislative body/ in question it is never without the concurrence of a majority that any such sinister effect can be produced. and By this consideration /thereupon/ we are led at once to the enquiry what is or are the source or sources of influence (influence of will on will sinister influence), by which on that Assembly on any occasion a number of wills sufficient to constitute a majority can be influenced with effect?

In former days, viz. for some time after the Revolution the answer to this question might have admitted of some little complication: besides the Monarch on the throne, there was the head of the displaced dynasty, maintaining his pretensions to the throne, there were in a state of hostility declared or latent foreign powers, holding themselves in readiness to give him support: and by these hostile influences, during the reign of William majorities were every now and then actually produced.

For the last half century however, viz. ever since the accession of the present Monarch /King/ the state of things in this respect has been extremely simple.

During this period as during every other period, in this community as in every other community, sinister interests there have always been, sinister interests as many in number as there have been /the community has contained/ individuals in it. But sinister interest, provided with such means of sinister influence as to be capable /able/, in spite of every opposing force, to produce /command/ a majority there never has been any more than one, viz. that of the Monarch /King/, including that cluster of subordinate sinister interests the influencing force of which is derived from his.