1818 July 5

Parl. Ref. Bill

Reasons

II. Electors Who

Universality

People after them rulers

5

37

Add. 7 Aug[?] 18. Appropriate /necessary/ instruction lies within a very narrow compass. Then this.

In this state of things With what colours[?] of reason by the ruling supporters of the system of non-Reform can any deficiency in the element of appropriate intellectual aptitude on the part of the bulk of the people be alledged in support of the exclusionary system? {In any direct way nothing is more notorious nothing more condemnable, any encrease in respect of this /this article/.} By any direct proof no superiority in respect of this element /article/ of appropriate aptitude is so much as attempted or professed to be proved: of its existence in this instance no direct evidence is ever attempted to be produced. Yet evidence of a certain sort is not only produced but most confidently relied on. And this sort of evidence what is it? circumstantial evidence mere circumstantial evidence - and that of a [...?] weak and inconclusive as can easily be conceived. This evidence of what is the matter of it composed? Of the matter of wealth /opulence/. In the matter of wealth they behold the grand efficient cause of the only two elements of appropriate aptitude that come here in question, viz. appropriate probity and appropriate intellectual aptitude. In their account /reasoning/ this pretious matter is the pretended efficient cause and the real substitute for every thing that can be desired. Exactly in proportion to the quantity of money or money's worth that a man has contrived to get into possession of is he not only the better man, but the wiser.