4 Jan y 1807

Scotch Reform │ │ To L d Grenville

Facienda

Causes mostly short

Supposed security against misdecision is again inferior[?] to a [...?] why /point of law/ magnify the importance of the point of law

/Meantime/ It is however on the ground of the pretended superior security against misdecision that the advocates of the technical system - including all who either find or seek their profit in the abuses of which it us composed - rest - (for certainly on no other ground could they hope to rest- ) its /all/ title to all the pretended excellence /reputation of superior excellence, or rather exclusive fitness/ which they never cease to claim for it. To say that the operations of the technical Courts are not attended with greater inconvenience in the shape of delay, vexation and expense would be /hopeless of credit/ as much as to say that there is no more light on the outer surface at midday than at midnight. But this extra quantity of delay vexation and expense put together as they say (or at least without venturing to say direct[?] use their endeavours to make us think) a less evil than the evil saved by that /the difference in point of/ superiority of security against misdecision of which their system is to be looked up to as the only source.

It is to /from/ /through/ this extra and factitious quantity of delay, vexation and expense that by insinuation[?] conveyed through the mouth of Montesquieu they would if possible make us think though it be what in their own person they would scarce venture directly to assert - that the famed superiority of their system in point of security against misdecision flows from an indispensable if not exclusively operating cause: so much extra delay, vexation and expense so much extra security against misdecision: and whatsoever purchase is made at this price, they would, if possible wish to make us look upon /cling to/ as a very /most/ advantageous purchase.