1818 March 29

Parl. Ref. Bill

Reasons

II. Electors Who

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Deplorable indeed would be the inconsistency, if in the eyes of any parliamentary man whose strength is in his eloquence, the idea of a reading people - not to speak of aversion - should be an object even of indifference.

On what ground could he place /build/ his objection?

1. Is it that in this case intellectual aptitude is an object of indifference?

2. Is it that by these means of appropriate information which nothing but the faculty of reading can lay open to him the degree /question/ of appropriate aptitude which he is capable of acquiring is lessened?

3 Whatsoever may be the impressiveness of his eloquence, is it in the House that, as matters stand at present he can entertain any so much as the faintest hope of making any such impression as he would wish?

4 Though to the House in form, is it not to the people - to the people alone in design and hoped for effect that what on any subject on the present is ever said by him is addressed?

5 Except by speeches spoken or said to be spoken by him in the House or if not else by books and pamphlets written by him, has he any means of conveying /communicating/ to the great body of the people on /in relation to/ this or any other subject his opinions or his wishes his wishes his opinions or his arguments /reasons/?

6. The extent of the communications which in this way it may thus be his desire to make is it not diminished by every diminution, encreased by every encrease, in the number of the persons capable of reading what it has been thought good by him to speak or write?