18 June 1811

Parl. Reform

On S.C. N o 3

9

As to war, the sense and substance of all […?] - the grand engine /instrument/ of misrule - observe how general /common/ interest stands to this respect: seeing how general interest stands, you need not be at much loss to conclude what course will be taken by general /common/ practice.

Whatsoever would be created or kept up by the Ins interest prompts the Outs to oppose it, and it is opposed accordingly. Be it against whom it may - let it have come whence it may, be assured that in their view of the matter it is either unjust, unnecessary, ill-conducted, or all three. While it lasts it produces, in the shape of taxes and conscriptions, additions to the mass of public burthens: to the people more sources of suffering and complaint, to the Outs /Opposition/ more grounds for attack, more chances for ultimate success /victory/.

Suppose on the ground of injustice or non- /want of/ necessity not that on either ground any such effect can well be produced suppose then on the ground of ill-success, from which infallibility and from which alone ill conduct will on the part of the people be believed, the party to whose lot it fell to give commencement or continuance of the war, driven out. Opposition with its “profession” now comes in. Do you suppose, can you seriously suppose that with so much to gain by war, they will be less ready, supposing any chance for the people enduring to see them continuing it, they will be the less ready to give commencement to another war, as unjust, as unnecessary, as imagination can conceive? Alas! little do you consider the force of sinister interest on one side /the one part/, the purpose[?] by the electioneers[?] on the other.