1819 Dec. 4

Bentham’s Radical &c

Prelim

II Necessity

End

3

But to substitute to the existing Monarchy or rather Monarchico-Aristocracy a mixture of Monarchy and Aristocracy with an almost expiring spark of Democracy a pure Democracy is what there would be little probability of effecting at any price Most certainly not at any less price than that of a Civil war: than that of an insurrection which of course unless and until it became successful would be termed a rebellion, and all who took part in it traitors.

There remains therefore as the only sort of arrangement /state of thing/ which either prudence or benevolence could recommend the endeavour to bring about that which may be termed Democratic ascendancy.

This Democratic ascendancy is the state of things that would have place if that branch of the legislative which for argument sake is sometimes spoken of as composed of Members chosen by the people i.e. the great mass of the population - were composed of Members, really so chosen: in a word if that state of things which by those who speak of it as having place is known not to have place, were really to have place.