18 Dec r 1806

Scotch Reform /Evidence/

To L d Grenville

Lawyer. Oh yes, I see - I see /I thought how it was/: you are for Parliamentary Reform, are n't you?

Non Lawyer. no: nor against it neither: I never thought anything about the matter: and will you have for the present occasion at least with[?] which it has nothing at all to do. I should be glad to save myself the trouble. If you have any thing to say about Parliamentary Reform, there's Major Cartwright made for you. That is[?] the way with you Lawyers, in that with every [...?], who he feels he has a bad [...?]. We had agreed to talk about one theory, and[/] in a term[?], you are for flying off to another. The question we /you and I/ are upon is - not who shall govern us?, but to whose benefit we shall be governed?

Lawyer - Well come, as you and I are friends - and you seem not inclined to stretch for wild and speculative theories, I will tell you /let you see/ fairly and honestly how the argument stands on our side: you well see that there are deeper reasons /is deeper reason/ for it than you would have imagined. To be sure, as there are so many more of you than there are of us, it is your interest that ought to have the preference : we don't dispute that: but it is for your interest that things should be as they are at present.

Non-Lawyer. Indeed? how[/] enough[?] I should have thought it. Not[?] so it is for our likes and as a proof /[...?]/ of the regard you have for us /love you bear to us/, that you gratify /favour but[?]/ us with so much more delay, vexation and expence have you need or would subject [...?] be otherwise?

Lawyer. not exactly so. You are speaking of motives: make what you will of them, they are nothing to the purpose. What you are concerned in, are the effects: and that was what I spoke of. It is for our[/] sake if you please /if so you choose to have it/, that we ease you of all this [...?]: it is for the sake of the many we get that in saddled you with the whole quantity of all this extra delay vexation, and expence: but be it what it may, it is not for you to grudge it: since be it what it may you are all the better for it.