1818 Oct. 27

Parl. Reform Bill

'.2 Electors Who

Universality

III. Taxedness

7

4 If /When/ taxedness is to form the qualification, or a part of the qualification, behold another evil consequence. In the scale of encrease /altitude/ and decrease a line must be fixt /drawn/ somewhere a quantum determined /fixt upon/, by less than which the qualification shall not be afforded /constituted/: for if no such line be drawn, then will admission be given to a degree /quantum/ of affluence so low that no effect whatsoever can be produced by it. But let this line be drawn where it will, behold the consequence. One /This/ year or one quarter of a year, a man shall have a vote the quantum being by any cause [...?]: the next year /day of judgment/ the same man, even though occupying the same house shall have no vote: thus will man /the condition of man, of man/ and a[?] multitude be continually tossed about from the /that/ condition of voters to the condition /that/ of non-voters and back again, at best the sport of fortune, {or else and} more probably the victorious sport of despotism and scant[?] artifice, under the mask of fortune. Think of these vicissitudes: real aptitude whatsoever it may consist in, follows not any such vicissitudes.