1818 Dec. 21

Parl Reform Bill

Dialogue II

Election Evils

{20}

1

Inserendumne?[?]

Dialogue 2 o. {Evils and remedies} – Evils /What evils there are/

to be guarded against: {what remedies are for that purpose proposed to be provided

Anti-Reformist. Well, so it is – I am in[?] computation[?] of interest. I am in[?]

disposition[?] to make and to persevere in making the sinister sacrifice, and as to

the time of so doing /making it/, that by the supposition is out of the question, it

is unfortunately implied in the appellation of ratios. Here

then is so much evil. But your own scheme this remedial[?] scheme of yours, think you

that no evil is to be found in it?

Reformist. The question you put is for form sake No such absurdity I am sure do you

mean to impute to me. […?] Government is but a choice of evils. - Taking evil in a

certain sense life itself – the very happiest life is but a choice of evils. Taken by

itself, government is in every shape an […?] evil: government in my own proposed form

of course as well as in any /every/ other.

Anti-Reformist. You take me right. Accordingly with very little expence of thought,

I could present you with evils in plenty to none of which you could yourself imagine

your scheme of reform to be unexposed. But since this matter has been so well

/thoroughly/ considered by you, the shortest way would be for you to give in[?] to

produce your own list of these evils, with the remedies by which you regard yourself

as having in a manner more or less effectual made provision against them. It would

/will/ then be to be all along upon the watch for the purpose of satisfying myself in

the first place whether your list of evils be a compleat one; in the next place how

far your remedies afford a promise of being sufficient.