21 Dec r 1809

Parl y Reform

Influence

Ch.3. Dependence Modes?

2

6

6

To excite a mans antipathy against an act, it is not necessary that it should be productive or to be in a way to be productive of any sort of mischief: it is sufficient that it would be disagreeable to him to do it himself.

In this case /these cases/ the corruption generally /almost always/ assumes that shape in which it wears the name of bribery.

Bribery accordingly being a species of corruption of which it is impossible that the King and his agents should ever stand in any /feel any/ real need, it constitutes a fit mask for their pious indignation /love of justice/ /morality/ to vent itself upon. By crushing /punishing/ private corruption, individual purchasers of votes and seats, they render to themselves the same service that opulent shopkeepers render /do/ to themselves /the opulent shopkeeper renders to himself/ by the crushing of Hawkers and pedlars: and (what is more than the traders can do, in and by the very act of crushing their antagonists /all competitors/ and giving perfection to their own scheme /system/ of profligacy, they make or at least if they know what they are about may make, display of the purity of their own principles, and their severe love of virtue.