1809 '.1 +

Parl. Reform. B + Electors

Ch.10. Qualification

'.1

1

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Ch.10 Art.10 Qualification of Electors.

Want of intelligence, a disqualification lessening every day: would be lessened by the proposed [...?]. (Member should bear or be [...?].) Also by Fallacy-Book. Qualification usually lowered by depreciation: but by newspapers &c. 40 s seems[?] more intelligent now than temp. Hen. 6.

Agreement on this head is matter /beset/ of peculiar difficulty. This is among those topics in relation to which Reason is in a more particular degree apt to find itself at a loss. In the finding out the principles that bear upon the case /question/, there is little or no difficulty. But quantities must be fixed: and neither separately nor collectively do the principles indicated by Reason point in any instance to any one quantity to the exclusion of all others. Within the limits marked out by principles under the evidence of Reason much must necessarily be left to be done by mere will under no better guidance than that of chance.

Here {as in mechanics}, what we gain in one shape we must be {content to sacrifice} /run the risk of sacrifi/ in another. In mechanics, the force of the [...?] [...?] given, what we gain in purchase we must lose in time. Here in this branch of politics, which we in gaining on the side of probity /in probity/, we are losing on the side of

intelligence.

I do not say what we gain in probity we lose in intelligence: for by the word what /an/ equal quantities would be designated in both cases /on both side/. In /For/ this case there would be nothing to choose - employed in this subject thought and reason would be thrown away.