26 Dec r 1806

Scotch Reform To L d Grenville

5 (8

Resolut. 13

Interlocution Unapplicable

In truth, so far as abundant[?] design is concerned, if it were worth thinking of /about/, the case that I should expect to find verified, as far as designs can be verified it is that upon this part of the plan very little reflection was /had been/ expanded. There was a source of appeals frequently and notoriously vexatious: here was a grievance: here had been a habit of complaint: let us put an end to it at once: appeals against Interlocutory judgments have been a notorious engine of chicanery[?]: let us hear no more of them. No professional interest directing /proceeding/ here: but under the spear of necessity, a sudden sacrifice made of professional interest to the public voice.

At the same time should a distant glance /prospect/ of confusion rising in the back ground have accompanied the sacrifice, the wonder would not be great: Among /So/ then where position gauves them an interest in abuse, when the clamour fr reform becomes too hard /at length for resistance/ to endure /admitt of/ resistance any longer, the prospect of seeing it /+rendered abortive by want of skill and appropriate experience/ miscarry remains /affords/ the natural comfort and the only hope:- then, have it your own way, and take the consequence.

Thus when the indignation of the people had rendered it no longer practicable to dispose of their fate in a jargon that did not contain a single word in it which they could so much as fancy themselves to understand, the lawyers set about translating it, word for word without choice or exception, [...?] indulging themselves in those expectation the open manifestation of which the simplicity of Blackstone in his simplicity, was not able to [...?]. You could have it in English - now what are you the better for it? What you expected /looked for/ was information: what you have got is nonsense.