26 Aug 1809

Parl y Reform Modus obstruendi[?]

Ch. Applications to whom

4

4

Difficulties have been started in respect of the choice of the authority to which petitions of expression of the sense of the people should be addressed, objections have been made to both modes. But these objections originated in hasty glances. According to the principles and practice of the Constitution there is no difficulty in the case.

Both modes are proper: neither exclusively /to the exclusion of the other/, both conjointly.

Petition to the House is proper. To what effect? That the House upon a motion made by any of its Members, taking up the matter of the petitions, may itself originate the business, if and whenever it sees cause.

Petition to the King is proper. To what effect? That, taking the business exclusively in /into/ his own hands he may disfranchise some Boroughs, confer /invest with/ the right of election to /upon/ new classes of person and so on? as heretofore? - No certainly. But that on that subject /occasion/, as on so many other occasions he is wont[?], he may call the attention of the House to the subject by a message from the throne, delivered by any one of his servants who is a member of the House.