22 Aug 1809

Parl y Reform

Corruption

Electors

3

It is from /by/ the application /use/ made of it in other instances that the word bribery has contracted /become associated with/ that idea of depravity, which, when the case comes to be examined into, will /is/ not be found to adhere /belong/ to it in this. It is not only scandalous but flagitious /pernicious/ /wicked/, and still more pernicious than it is scandalous, for an exciseman, for example, or any other collector of the public revenues to receive a bribe from a contributor. - Why? because what is certain is that in this case the bribe would not be given, if the interest of the people in respect of their /the/ revenue necessary to their preservation did not suffer by it. Bribery in that case can not take place, but that evil must ensue: the evil that in that case ensues can not ensue but that the author of it must know of it.

But here in this case, no mischief does take place in consequence of the bribe, no mischief unless by accident is by the receiver of the bribe supposed to take place in consequence of the acceptance he has given to it, so much as supposed to take place.