11 June 1810

Influence

1

Ch.

'. Influence convenient

5

In the situations here in question, influence of will over will is neither more nor less than corruption. But Corruption is a term never is understood to be with grammatical propriety /properly/ applied, but it carries with it an expression of disapprobation, applied /of disapprobation applying itself/ to the conduct of him at least who is considered as the party corrupted. Influence /Of the word influence the use/ can not be understood as uniformly expressive /indicative/ of /accompanied with/ any such mark /sentiment/ of disapprobation {so directed /excited/}.

Corruption is what /under its own name /that its name/ no man deems /finds/ it advisable to defend: when therefore he takes upon him to defend it, he discards /discarding/ and carefully avoids to employ this name, he looks out for some term of which it can not be said that it is inapplicable to the thing in question, viz. corruption, but which at the same time shall not bear upon the face of it any such stamp of reprobation /carry along with it any such note of disapprobation/: and this comparatively unobnoxious term /appellative/ he finds in the word influence,

In the language of the Greeks there was a word that signified as well medicine as poison. In the use of this word a convenience could not but have occasionally been found by poisoners.