[clxvii. 88]

1821 March 23

Rid Yourselves

Anti Constitut

Corruptive influence

Look at Article 129. Think what can be the use or real object of it. The use and object which it was meant should be assigned to it is manifest /plain/ enough upon the face of it: to prevent the votes and discourses of the Members from being influenced by the wishes, and thence by the particular and sinister interest of the Monarch, or any of the functionaries or others in his dependence.

Now for the terms of it "During the time of their deputation....the Deputies can not receive for themselves nor solicit for another, any employment conferred by the King (de provision del Rey (a)) nor any promotion ni aun ascenso....

During the time of their deputation! What? Be the value of the /an/ employment what it may, is it then destroyed by a delay of two Years? Note that this of two years is the extreme limit of the delay. The actual maximum is not so long. For before business has commenced, and obsequiousness has had time to manifest itself some part of the two years must have elapsed. So much for the maximum. But the minimum what is it? /Maximum less than two years: Minimum, during which a Member has to wait before he can ask or receive or ask/ Not so much as two days

(a) See p. 7.