12 Aug 1809

Parl y Reform

B.III Duration

Ch. 4. 2. Populace incapable

10

2

Every thing /feature of the constitution/ that men either do or profess to set a peculiar value upon being thus founded on the contrary supposition - on the supposition that the people do all labour under - an irremediable incapacity of forming a right judgment in their own interest, and it being even by the most determined adversaries of Parliamentary Reform admitted that appeals to the people are not improper, and shaken by necessary consequence[?] that the people are not absolutely incapable of forming and entertaining a right conception of their own interest, the question seems reducible to these two points.

1. Whether when such appeals are /ny such appeal is/ made to the people it be it be better that the mind of the people should be in a state of irritation than in an habitually calm and quiet state.

2. Whether, now[?] a judgment must at any rate from time to time be passed by the people, it be better that they should be called upon to pass it on a sudden without the benefit of habitual exercise and experience, or in the possession of that benefit.