3 Dec r 1809 '.4

Parl y Reform

Influence

Ch.1. Explanations

'.4 Corruption

(7 or before) 1

2?

In every instance of corruption there are two parts noted: that of the corruptor /him by whom/, and that of him who is corrupted /to whom the matter of corruption is administered/. These two parts there will be frequent occasion to distinguish: in the one case /on the one part/ the corruption has been said to be active; in the other, passive.

Even in /where the corruption is of/ the active kind, the part taken by the corruptor is in many if not most instances such as in the stage[?] may be termed inactive: [...?] to produce whatever effect can be aimed at by the corruption it is not /may perhaps never be/ necessary that on his part any explicit discourse or deportment /active line of conduct/ should be uttered /exhibited/, that in a word any thing should be done.

When by corruption the effect it aims at is produced, it is by means of a particular species contract of a particular species entered into for that purpose.

In point of possibility /the nature of the case/ this, like any other contract, is, in respect of the course taken for the communication between mind and mind, capable alike of being either[?] express or implied. Express however, this like many other sorts of contracts it scarce ever is in point of practice.

When a man bespeaks of his shoemaker a pair of shoes, what he says to him make me another pair of shoes: what he does not say to him is - and when you have sent them to me together with your bill, I will pay you, as I have been used to do, the fair value. This would be superfluous a mere waste of words.