1818 March 8

Parl Reform Proposed H. of Commons Resolutions

10

20. That, so long ago as the year 1782,in consequence of the experience then already

had, and the strong sense accordingly entertained not only of the existence but of

the mischievous effects of this sinister influence it was in and by a Resolution

passed by this House declared, of and concerning the influence of the Crown, that the

same “has encreased is encreasing and ought to be diminished.”

21. That since that time that sinister influence hath been encreased, viz. on the

one hand by the difference between the public debt and consequent taxes of that time

(between £ | | and £ | |) and the public debt and taxes of the present time (between

£ | | and £ | |), on the other hand by the amount of the standing army at that time,

between [ ] and [ ] men at this present time. (a)

22. That so far as regards the public debt without consequences too repugnant to

justice and general utility to need mentioning that influence can not now in any

degree approaching to an adequate one, be diminished.

Note (a)

(a) To be inserted or not in so many parentheses indication of the mode in which the

debt and the army contribute to the encrease of sinister influence: viz. debt “in

respect of the taxes necessary for payment of the interest thereof and the profitable

offices and commissions necessary for the collection of those same taxes”: army “in

respect of the patronage and power exercised in relation to the offices and

commissions thereunto belonging, as well as the faculty of applying that same power

to the stifling the voice and destroying the liberties of the people.”