8 Sep. 1809

Parl y Reform

I Necessity

B.II. Influence

' King's dependence necessary

2 Uncorruptive system self-ameliorative

6

15

For assisting us /the mind/ in our conjectures, one course that on this occasion would present itself as a natural one would be to look out for the open seats whether those for the counties or those for the open boroughs and compare in this point of view that part of the Legislation[?] of the House with that which is composed of the representatives of close and pocket boroughs.

Take Westminster for example - the most populous of all the open boroughs the most populous. Within the compass of the last half century how far are the instances in which the seat at the disposal of this borough /election district/ was not bestowed on the ground of merit of talent of some sort, often real always at least supposed.