30 Dec r 1809

Parl y. Reform

Ch.6 Parl. Corruption I. Members

'. Corruptor Course[?]

Corruption continued

'.5. 2. Corruptor's mind[?]

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2

The purposes /occasions/ on which the influence of a Minister is exerted /exercised/ on a Member are reductive to two: that on which his possession of his seat , and that in which his conduct when in his seat is in question.

In so far as his possession of his seat is in question the influence /effect/ of the transaction on the mind of the Minister /in question/ belongs not to the present purpose: it will come under consideration, further on, viz. when the effect of corruption and corrupt dependence on the situation of a parliamentary Elector comes to be considered.

On the present occasion the person considered as exposed to corruption, and liable thereby to be brought into a situation of habitual and corrupt dependence is considered as already in possession of his seat.

The person by whose influence he is placed and kept in this dependent state is the Minister or a Minister: and the considerations by which he is placed or kept in this state are the hope of some benefit to his receipt of which the concurrence /an act/ of the Minister is regarded as necessary, or the fear of the loss /losing/ of some benefit which the Minister is considered as having it in his power to deprive him of /revoke/: for instance a lucrative office held by him under the crown /an administration already in his hands/.