1818 March 29

Parl. Ref. Bill

Reasons

II Electors Who

Reading Qualification

Reasons

9

{2}. Of /From[?]/ those who, in so far as the faculty of reading will, /would,/ under the proposed system of reform, be applied to the purpose of forming their respective opinions, in relation to proposed Candidates for seats and possession of seats, and thence in relation to public measures in general, had rather this faculty should not be possessed, - even of these there will be not a few, in whose eyes the possession of it would be a most beneficial endowment, in so far as it should come to be applied to the reading of the Bible. At no inconsiderable expence, by the munificence of pious charity, are copies of the Bible distributed either gratuitously or at an under price. But by any /no/ such donation, can any the smallest good effect, either in the way of [...?] of party[?], or in any other way ever be produced, but in proportion as the subject of it finds its way to cope by which this faculty is possessed. neither by this, nor by any other means could any addition be made to the number of persons capable /able/ to read, but an equal addition would be made to the number of persons capable of reading the Bible:- capable of making their profit of the boon so zealously pressed into every hand that can be prevailed as /upon/ to receive it.

Thus by universal suffrage thus modified, there is not only good government, but increase in the same proportion good religion served and promoted: not only present but future universal interest: not temporal only but everlasting happiness.

{3}. Are there any persons in whose eyes no clear benefit net profit is likely to be derived either by reading for the purpose of voting at Parliamentary Elections or by reading the Bible? still among those persons there may be some in whose eyes such net profit might and would be derived from the faculty of reading, on the supposition that it would be applied to this or that other purpose. In all such eyes the collateral benefit that would be produced by the proposed institution in question, by the extent /extension/ that would thus be given to the faculty of reading could not but be placed to the account of advantage, and operate as a reason {pleading} in support of it.