April 1807

Lawyers judged

Where [...?] are[?] included, the [...?] of interest and those of duty coincide.

What they have not any regard for - what it does not occurr to them so much as to profess a regard for - is the ends of justice.

What they have a regard for - what at least it does occurr to them to profess a regard is - the Act of Union that is to say, to the letter of it?

Why to the letter of that Act? Because not only the proposed authoritative plan of reform, but every change that would be in any considerable degree beneficial to your interests - conducive to the ends of justice, is regarded by them as adverse to their corporate and consequently individual interests: and for the support /maintenance/ of their own /those/ private in opposition to the public interest, they fancy /it appears to them/ they behold a support in the letter of that law.

Supposing no other alternative which, my good Lords would be /is you rather[?] see/ the object of your choice? the people shall be more happy, and the Act of Union departed from /departure/? - or the people unhappy /less happy/, and the Act of Union adhered to without departure? The answer of their Lordships is already given. The happiness of the people? the ends of justice? Neither object has any place in one[?] thought.  Neither object would any purpose of our own be answered. By the Act of Union /the letter of it/ we regard as adapted to our purpose: this accordingly is all we think of: this is all we speak of: this is the only object we consider ourselves consider, or wish to see considered by others.