23 Aug 1809 +

Parl y Reform

Corruption

Electors

Candidates

6

1

1

Yet In the case of this particular Office in particular, according to a very general opinion - according to an opinion which has even received the sanction of law, one qualification - and that not merely a desirable but an indispensable one is opulence /affluence/.

Of his possessing this qualification in effect the money giving candidate has given a proof much more conclusive and undeceptitious than any that has ever been given /secured/ or can ever be given /secured/ by legal requisites. The pecuniary parliamentary qualification required by British law is for a County Member ,600 a year, for a Borough Member, ,300 a year. Even this is evaded and very happy it is that it is so. But were the quantum ten times as much and no evasion practicable still the security it would afford for the exertion of affluence would fall short of that which is afforded by this pretendedly corrupt practice. Affluence depends not only upon a mans means but upon his wants: it is in the direct ratio of the one; it is in the inverse ratio of the other. A man of vast means may be placed (and how often do we not see him placed!) may be placed in a state of practically-operative indigence /of indigence/, by the still superior vastness /magnitude/ of his wants. By Expenditure in the way in question shews not merely the magnitude of means but the ratio of means to wants. it shews the excess of means above wants: and though it will not shew the whole of the /exact/ excess it shews at any rate which is the only thing to the present purpose to the purpose of incorruptibility material - it shews at any rate that there is an excess /exists/.