4 Jan y 1807

Scotch Reform │ │ To L d Grenville

Facienda

Causes mostly short

If questioned on this head I speak mostly from conjecture for certainly they are not much in the habit of being thus questioned - it is I imagine, not so much /decidedly/ upon the point /on the ground/ of fact that this supposed superiority of security against misdecision would be placed by them, as upon the point /ground/ of law. It is on this account that, their prejudices harmonizing in this as in so many other[?] things with their interests, it is among their habits to ascribe /attribute/ an exaggerated degree of importance to the question of law, to the danger of error in respect of it /to all descriptions bearing relation to it/, and consequently to whatever degree of security many be capable of being given /created/ against misdecision in relation to it /on that ground/.

Hence all that parade of solemnity of argument, multiplicity / multiplication/ of Judges for this special purpose, and care /pains/ taken to reserve for it the cognizance ultimate[?] or even exclusive of select heads, such as would in vain be looked for any where but in the metropolis, heads stocked with the richest treasures of learning, and wisdom that are any where to be found treasures the fruit of nothing less than the most incessant and long-continued habits of exercise /labour/ and meditation.