26 Sep 1809

Parl y Reform

B. I. Necessity

Ch. 18 Despotism near

§.1. Commons dependent

2

2

N.B. In pocket boroughs a slight too[?] capitation[?] appropriate dependence.

If of the 658 members of which since the Union with Ireland it is composed a clear

majority, containing /consisting of/ 330 or more were in relation to the King

constantly and at all times in any such state as should be universally acknowledged

to be a state of compleat and absolute dependence, the inefficacy of the House in the

character of a check would it is supposed be universally acknowledged, or at any rate

not explicitly maintained.

If the House were exactly in that state, it would be manifest beyond dispute that

the monarchy so pretended to be limited would be worse than an absolute one, viz in

every particular but the discussion of public measures in the House in circumstances

under which some particulars of the debates were liable to transpire; which publicity

would however in that case have been but of short continuance. If it were exactly in

that state, for in that case every discussion would be mere matter of form, and the

King’s will, howsoever opposite to the interest of the people would in every case

without exception, be prevalent of course: and the House of Commons would as well as

the House of Lords oppose to the will of a King of Great Britain and Ireland no other

check than is opposed to the will of an Emperor of the Franks by the {Bonaparte’s}

legislative body of Bonaparte.