12 Aug 1809

Parl y Reform

B.II. Influence

Ch.1. Explanations

'. Influence on understand g innocent

{3}

2

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Influence[?]

{In this way Influence of understanding over understanding may be exercised without any exertions without any exertions without so much as the knowledge of him by whose understanding it is exercised.}

 Add to [...?] will over will, reference to Elements of [...?].

It is in this sense that on the < > of < > 1809 influence was exercised by M r Waithman[?] over the Common Council /many a Livery-man/ of the City of London.

It is thus that on the < > of < > 1809 influence are exercised by M r Cobbet over many a freeholder of Hampshire. The Common Council /Livery of London/ (such of them on whom this influence was exercised) may have been misled in the one case: the freeholders of Hampshire (with /under/ the like limitation) on the other. Misled let them in both cases have been, all of them: but will any one say, would M r Percival, would M r Davies Geddy[?] who if the Report of the debate of < > 1809 is to be believed is so fond of influence, and so acutely sensible of /to/ the necessity of it, would either of them take upon himself to say, if any of these Electors that on this occasion they were corrupted? Had either M r Waithman[?] or Mr Cobbet either of them either of these places, so much as a banknote to give or to take away from any of these electors?

Oh yes - the understanding of those people was corrupted - corrupted by the sophisms and fallacies[?] they were plied with - Well then - be it so observing that this is itself a sophism of your oath stripping the word corrupted of its plan since at[?] which it was meant to convey, and fathering upon it a different sense - a figurative sense. But dependent - what will /can/ you make of that? can you corrupt that? No, that you cant: not all the resources of corruption in either sense will enable you to say, with any the least chance of obtaining assent /for/ on the part of any one to/ what you say, that in relation either to M r Waithman[?] or M r Cobbet every of the persons whose understanding right or wrong, took the understanding of one or other of those distinguished persons for their guide were in a state of dependence.