Dec 1809

Parl y. Reform

Ch.1. Explanations

'.5. Matter its modifications

2

7

1. Trusts[?] so important

2. Quantity of corrupt matter so great

{ 4 As to the first point, there are two circumstance in the view /under the aspect/ of which, although there be / were?/ not a particle of the matter of good that is not in the character of matter an efficient cause of corruption - in a word of criminality /delinquency/ and vice in all their shapes, susceptible /capable/ of being applied in and by other hands than the King's, and thence to other evil[?] purposes than the King under the influence of his separate and sinister interest is liable to propose to /set before/ himself, yet when compared with the mischief to the influx of which the community is exposed from this most copious and highest source, the utmost possible quantity of mischief producible in this way by any such private hands shrinks into nothing: these are}

{ 4. That in comparison of the species of trust, the breach of which is liable in this instance to be brought to pass the mischief producible by the breach of any other trust, not to say of all other trusts put together, is inconsiderable.}

{ 2. That whereas /while/ in the case of individual corruptors the aggregate mass of sinister interest by which taken together they are excited on the one hand to be /become/ corruptors on the other hand to become corrupted is in an indefinite degree divided: and that in such sort and degrees the mischievous effect of the corruption administered by one hand is capable of being lessened or done away by the effect of corruption, administered by another.

Take for example the case of the trust attached to the situation of parliamentary electors[?]. One elector is bribed by a candidate on one side, another elector by a candidate on the other. If so it be that the candidate who suceeds is probity intelligence and active qualifications taken together so it be that the successful candidate is equally fit with the unsuccessful one in ultimate mischief at least in the individual instance in question, [...?]: if more fit, instead of mischief the result of the corruption is in the individual instance in question, an actual ballance of good.}