22 Oct r 1807

L d Eldons Bill

Thus stands the matter which as yet there is but one in the case of one legislator, and he not being one beside himself, but one only.

Unfortunately for in the /that/ House where every thing /if any thing/ that were to be done were to be done, for the learned but unennobled Lord, so far from a voice not so much as a seat, were to be found: it accordingly became matter of necessity to be of the same Opinion, so far as it might be found possible to come at the Opinion[?], if the learned and already ennobled Lord whom by this time he saw not only presiding in that most honourable House and taking the lead in its proceedings, but prepared, whensoever and wheresoever a hand[?] should be found for it to " sit at the head" of it.

Here then a Union of legislators Scottish with English became necessary: and we see the result. The half of the two was something: the two together became equal to nothing: ([...?][...?][...?]:) As in algebra, so in legislation. If x be in both cases a positive quantity, x + x is equal to 2x, but while in one case the value of x is positive if in the other case it be negative, x + x is equal to 0. But ex nihilo[?] useful fit: and there /here/ it is that while from one x alone we had a fixed quorum, viz. a quorum of five enacted in the course of one section and as the phrase is amongst other things, in the learned Advisors Bill, we have a whole /an entire/ section consecrated and appropriated to the subject of Quorums only, and that entire section with a gap /hole/ in it, making the whole equal to 0.

of the President of the Scottish College of Justice with the learned Advisor and Representative of the Head of the Law in both kingdoms.