1818 Dece r 21

Parl Reform Bill

Dialogue III

Preliminary View

Universality

2 Non-Adults

{14}

7

Anti-Reformist. Well, since you do not, for the present at least insist upon the

giving votes to females, I, in so far as concerns myself /for my own/ /speaking for

myself/, am content to humour you so far, as to keep to myself my share in the laugh

which you seem so much afraid of /that laugh which makes you talk so seriously/. But

now as to Non-Adults.

Reformist – If you recollect /have not forgot/, I expressed myself still more

decided upon exclusion in this case than in that of females. Will not this satisfy

you?

Anti Reformist. Certainly as to the result. But this is not all. What you have

/undertook/ to do in this case likewise, is to clear yourself of the imputation of

inconsistency.

Reformist. Fine: to act by shewing that though on my plan this class would be

excluded yet that neither in this case could the sinister sacrifice so often

mentioned have place, because neither in this case can there be any opposition of

interests: opposition of interests between the Adults in quality of sole Electors,

and Non-Adults in quality of Non-Electors. I think you will not on reflection look

/regard me/ as labouring in this case under any great difficulty.