8 July 1806

Scotch Reform /Evidence/

If on such an occasion title[?] to confidence were worth looking to, (and it will be worth the loss in every man's eyes, the more correct his comprehension is of the ends of justice) the opinion of the English lawyer would be worth most to the body of Scottish suitors, and for the same reason as that of a Scotch lawyer would be to that of English ones. Why? - because though the /a [...?]/ lawyer of any /[...?]/ is a [...?] neighbour to a Scotch or English one, than a Scotch or English suitor or [...?] is to either, yet in the case of this crass interchange of advice neither the sinister interest nor the prejudice which like a weed grows out of interest being quite so strong, the opinion is not likely to be so /quite/ perversely [...?] by it.

Nor, never have been individuals I mean, nor I hope and trust ever will be in either part of the country altogether wanting, in whose bosom the generous love of praise, or the still more generous affection of philanthropy has obtained /are capable of obtaining //gaining/ occasional triumphs /an occasional ascendant/ over those grosser affections which are apt to be presented and to the exclusion [...?], by the word interest. At this moment my bosom swells with a mixture of pride and affection at the thoughts /recollection/ of some illustrious examples /examples (alas - that [...?] are not common[?] nuisances/ of the /whose/ assistance of which may Your Lordship never be deprived. But when classes and bodies /orders/ of men are considered, and they, continuing their existence, their views, their opinions, through a succession of ages, to expect[?] that their conduct or in consequence their language should ever receive its determination from any other [...?] than that of interest in its narrowest sense, would be to expect that water should move /fly/ upwards, or [...?] downwards.

A corporation is a sort of a thing which has no conscience. It is among the articles of the English lawyer's creed: he has it from his Lordship[?]. It is one of the few, if there be any other /and conscious of the wisdom //source// of English lawyers is composed/, rules of English law, that has no unannounced exception to make it false: and if lucky[?] an exception to it, were to be found shall it be looked for in the instance of that great though unchartered corporation with which his Lordship was but acquainted, that great though [...?] corporation of which he had been at the head, and which sees all others at its feet?