24 Jan y 1810

Parl y Reform

Ch. 9 Seat Given

'.2. Mischief & corruption

4

Neither in practice will the degree of dependence be frequently if ever /otherwise than very rarely/, so compleat as for the argument sake it is here supposed to be. As between individual and individual it would be extravagant to suppose the patron sticking by the incumbent as close as [...?] did to Telemachus, and in each particular question giving him his instructions - instructions destructive of his free will. For the delivery of such instructions, one occasion out of ten seems a large allowance. Well then on one occasion out of ten our hero for such he is by the supposition stands some hero or other engaged to give his vote according to direction given by another person of whom we have no more reason for thinking ill than ill than well. Be it so: but upon these terms he observes the power of doing on nine other occasions the good which otherwise it would not be in his power to do on any one. /so much as one./

By the supposition, the incumbent is a man of the patrons choice. Conformity of sentiment between them, and that to a considerable degree, especially upon points of primary importance, can /is/ therefore in this case the natural state of things.