1818 March 28

Parl. Ref. Bill

Reasons

III Electors Who

Reading Qualification

Reasons

4

4

But on this as on most political questions, certainties not being within his grasp, man is reduced /subjected/ to the necessity of acting upon probabilities: upon ground of no firmer texture. How /And/ so it is that when for securing the attainment and possession of the great and good government all the means of security that are at the time in question within reach have actually been provided, still, so long as any ulterior ones[?] can be indicated which though not at present /as yet/ within reach afford a pretence of being by appropriate exertions sooner or later brought within reach, still so long as any hope of this hand[?], precedence the undeniable dictates /[...?]/ of precedence, press /urge/ with considerable force the necessity of calling forth their exertions.

Now as to the existence of the advantages which in this respect a man who possesses the faculty or reading possesses over him who is not in possession of that important faculty - of the existence or of the vast magnitude of these advantages surely no reasonable doubt can ever be entertained {by any man}. A derived judgment, yes: but that sort of judgment, makeshift as it is, be allowed to suffice, suffice without the addition of a self-formed one.. Still in respect of the formation though it be of nothing better than a derived judgment how prodigious is the advantage which the reading man has over him who is unable to read! Within the reach of the reading man lie the very best means of information which the whole [...?] affords: within the reach of the non-reading man lie no other sources of information than what the conversation of a set of men whose means of information are /will for the most part/ as to all matters of detail not much more correct or ample than his own.

That which by such means may have been placed within his reach is information of the general character /reputation/ possessed already in relation to the several points of appropriate aptitude, by the respective Candidates. That which by these same means can not be placed within his reach is after the Candidate of desire has borne his part in the management of the public business, the propriety /aptitude/, absolute and comparative, of the part acted for him in relation to the several particular questions that have come under his cognizance. /[...?] measures in relation to which he has had to operate./