19 Dec r 1809

Parl y Reform

Ch. Mischief of Dependence

1

A Member of Parliament is a trustee: he is a trustee appointed /nominated/ by his Electors his constituents to watch in a certain way over the interests of themselves {and their fellow subjects for whom they themselves are but in trust}.

If in any point in lieu of his own will guided by his own understanding a trustee accepts for the rule of his conduct the will of another /any other/ person possessing and actuated /directed/ by an interest separate from and opposite in any respect to that of the trust to that of the persons for whom he is in trust, the consequence is to the extent in which such substitution takes place, a sacrifice of the trust, a sacrifice made by him as to so much of the interests and of the persons so committed to his charge.

Then and by this means takes place to the prejudice of the persons whose interests are respectively committed to the care of the perfidious trustee, every mischief that the nature of the case /their respective situations/ are susceptible of.

The trustee is he of a factor? /consigner of goods?/ Entering into a confederacy with the purchaser, he sells them to him at an under value, sharing with him the extra profit.

Is he a land steward? He lets the /his employer's/ land at an under rent, receiving fines from the tenants - fines not for the /use of his/ landlord's use but for his own.

Is he the Guardian of a rich heir or male ward? He finds out dishonest masters and dishonest tradesmen, and shares with them their double profits /and keeps[?] them under contributions[?] allowing them double prices/.

Is he the Guardian of an opulent female a rich heiress for his ward. He sells her to a fortune hunter.