18 Dec r 1806

Scotch Reform /Evidence/

To L d Grenville

'. People & Lawyers

To [...?] the matter [...?], and [...?...?], I will venture to submitt to your Lordship the substance[?] - not of a speech that might have been spoken, but forasmuch as to this suit /cause/ as to others there are two sides of a dialogue that might have been held.

After the usual introduction, consisting of compliments, and observations of the weather, and the appropriateness of the place (an appropriate place such as Westminster Hall or for greater tranquillity the Villa of a Lord Chancellor or a Lord Chief Justice being chosen of course) with a few[?] words to open the occasion the dialogue went on as follows.

Non-Lawyer - Delay, and vexation, the more there is of it, to us suitors I mean, the more expence: and the more expence to us suitors, the more profit to you lawyers. We are as much the King's subjects as you are: there are more of us than there are of you more than a hundred I hope for /to/ [...?]. In so far as our interests clash, and alas! there is a [...?] a point (I fear) in which they do not clash, it is on the ground that we[?] choose[?] a /the/ preference. I confess honestly I know of no other: yet with submission, I should hope this one may be deemed sufficient.

Lawyer. Mighty injuries[?] indeed! I mean in speculation - you understand me in theory:- and so you would have the affairs of mankind carried upon such fine-spun[/] theories?

Non-Lawyer - theory? I don't understand theories: not I. good or bad (my conception of the matter I mean) it was from Cocker's Arithmetic that I took it. A hundred more are a hundred times as many as one man: are n't theory? You may call this theory if you please, is it the less true?