1819 Jan. y 5

Parl Reform Bill

Dialogue

Preliminary View

Evils & Remedies

Remedies

Miselection

Appropriate aptitude

1

54

{35}

Anti-Reformist. After all, there is something so paradoxical in these ideas

/equations of yours/, I know not how to bring myself to accede to them. Take them in

your own language. Appropriate Intellectual aptitude is one of the qualifications you

think {to secure to the person in question} /to make sure of/ and for doing so you

let in /open the door/ without exception the most ignorant of the people. Appropriate

probity is another of those same qualifications: and to make sure of it you let /open

the door/ the most indigent – the most profligate – the most untrustworthy in every

respect.

Reformist. While you thus keep /Keeping/ to generals, there is not there can not be

a plan of any kind so good, but plausible objections against it may be raised against

it. Look closely /particularly/ into the matter /case/, the objections you will see

amount to nothing: the words have no applicable /apposite/ ideas belonging to them.

Under both heads you will find that the security I provide the security for

appropriate aptitude is sufficient: on both points you will find it a better security

than in the present /existing/ state of things you have at present. I say, state of

things: for as to plan, plan you can not but be sensible, there is none.

Never /Never/, let me beg of you – let slip out of your mouth[?] the word appropriate: it is not wisdom at large, it is not probity at

large that is requisite either to the situation of Representatives or in the

situation of Electors as in the situations of Representatives: in both situations it

is only appropriate wisdom it is only appropriate probity. Instead of intellectual aptitude I use /say/ wisdom here as being the more common word.