1818 Sept. 1

Parl. Reform Bill

+ '.2 B.

Reasons ult

'.2. Electors Who

Universality

2. Intellect

9

1

9

2. Of these elements with reference to the secondary situation in question comes secondly and lastly for consideration the element of appropriate intellectual aptitude "According to the best of his judgment" was accordingly a limitation necessary as above to be annexed.

To a first glance /view/ what may at first sight occurr is that, forasmuch as the Members of the House of Commons possessors of the virtually supreme power have as such for their field of thought and action the whole field of government with all the details belonging to it, the Universal-suffrage men their proposed Electors, will in that quality, on the occasion of each Election have to act as judge of the conduct of these their delegates /deputs[?]/ and Representatives: and that for the exercise of their judgment which belong in that character it will in like manner be necessary for them to extend their observation and their judgment over that same unbounded field: and that if such appropriate intellectual aptitude as they possess falls short of being competent and sufficient for the performance of that task, it falls short of being adequate and that in such sort and to such a degree as to render it a matter of necessity to look out for /take/ some other hand or hands /person or persons/ at[?] need[?] for the hands by which /whom/ the function of choosing the possessors of this virtually supreme power shall be exercised.

This being the case /These things considered/, the conclusion will naturally enough be 1. that it is not in the nature of their situation to furnish them with the means of attaining any relatively adequate portion of appropriate intellectual aptitude, nor therefore to admitt of their possessing it: 2. that even, supposing them to possess it, such is the habitual precipit[...?] and passion attached to their situation, as to preclude them from its free and calm pursuit of the dictate of their judgment even were those dictates themselves ever so strictly conformable to their interest; that is to the universal interest.