7 June 1810 1 §.4.

Influence

Ch. Mischief

§.4.

3 o

1

6

1

§. 4. Effect of numbers - how modified by these bands.

2. The other circumstance necessary to be taken into the account is - that on almost any question that is likely to be brought upon such a carpet, {which ever be the wrong - the sinister side} which ever be the side that accords with the sinister interest or humour of the King - or to speak still more generally - which ever on that question be the wrong, the sinister side, it is but natural that independently of all sinister bias in the way of interest, there should in each an assembly be a number of Members more or less considerable, disposed to range themselves on that sinister side.

This being admitted, the number of wills which for the purpose of giving effect to the sinister will of the King require /it is necessary on this or that /on the occasion of this or that particular question// to put under regal influence receives a proportionable diminution. In a minimum House, to the purpose of carrying a new measure, six and twenty wills in a state of subjection to sinister influence was the number above stated as being necessary, abstraction made of /buying out of the account/ this circumstance. Take now into account this circumstance, and immediately it will be seen that so it may happen that a number much /considerably/ less than this six and twenty may suffice. Let the number /Out of the necessary six and twenty/ thus attached to the sinister side by a twist in the understanding be six, the number for the securing of whose votes it is necessary that the twist should be applied to the will is thus reduced to twenty: augment to sixteen the number of distorted understandings, the number of wills to which it is necessary that the distortion should be applied is thus reduced to ten: and so on through every variation in the number.