1818 Nov 28

Parl. Reform Bill

Preface or Introd.

7

{So} in the civil branch - among the arrangements dearest to the aristocratic heart is that by which a licence for swindling is secured /granted/ to every man of opulence, in so far as the force worn by his wealth is that which, for this amongst other similar purposes has been enveloped by the lawyer tribe with the unintelligible [...?] of real property. {Proportioning the splendours of his household to the magnitude of the spoil contemplated, the Lord, the Sir, as the Esquire takes up goods of as many tradesmen as by this course /instrument/ of deception here he can fascinate /thus impose upon/, borrows to the right and left from as many friends or expectants as he can find means to practice upon, adds by this means more acres to the original land-roll, and leaving the fruit of the depredation to his children /posterity/, leaves to his dupes the less, and the pains of privation and regret which Milton has attached to the contemplation of it.} When Monarchs are content to part with the faculty of marking /[...?]/ themselves by force /[...?]/, Aristocrats will be equally content to part with the faculty of compassing the same objects /like object/ by the no /not/ less effective and convenient though less glorious instrument /means/ - fraud. But in /no such clause as/ in the rationale the statement of the reasons for /which/ the abolition of this mode of depredation would require for its justification would the disappointed sharper find /behold a cause of/ any sensible uneasiness over and above that which the fox whom he pursues and imitates[?] finds when the vigilance of the housewife has compelled him to release from his gripe the wounded goose.