1819 Oct. 2

Parl Reform Bill

§.14 General Explanation

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Formula – Passages that belong not to the text, when to head these with the name of Reasons, introduced by Questions, when to give them /subjoin them/ simply in the usual form of Notes. So in regard to Explanations – preliminary and incidental.

So as to the placing immediately after the word Reason, a phrase indicative of some one of the preestablished General heads: as Residuum of Miselection &c.

Formula – is instead of shall be.

The present thus expressed where the future is intended – the future, that is the imperative in the guise of the future is not literally accordant with grammatical propriety. The use of it is to produce the effect of imperation, where, by reason of the minuteness and comparative triviality of the arrangements, the dignity of the discourse might be liable to appear compromised, were the coercive powers of legislation observed to be called forth applying themselves in a direct way to the producing of effects of such comparatively small importance. The emblem of the fly broken upon the wheel would /might/ be apt to present itself.

The case in which this formula may be used with least danger of impropriety is where it is used for the purpose of direction rather than that of imperation. To this case belongs more particularly that where the person to whose conduct the direction is endeavoured to be given is an Office bearer, and the direction such as he is not likely to be solicited to deviate from by any sinister interest: where in the execution of the arrangements in question the nature of the case requires that more or less latitude should be given: a purpose with which the unbinding forms of inspiration would scarcely be compatible. In the language of French legislation the use of the form here proposed is frequent.