1818 Dece r 23

Parl. Reform Bill

Dialogue

Preliminary View

II Election Evils

1 Evils

28

9

Anti-Reformist. So much for your uncharacteristic Election evils: Now for your

characteristic ones.

Reformist. A little patience, and you shall have names as familiar to you as {any

of} those others. But first you must allow me a division or two, or if you please a

distinction or two.

Anti-Reformist. To be sure I must /Oh yes, any thing you please/. But then you on

your part you must allow me to yawn if I cant help it, or to take my hat up and walk

off.

Reformist. {Both are always in your power.} /I see you have a mind /an inclin/ to be

in the fashion. You have been lately I suspect/ There is a great red house, in which

if you attempt to distinguish any one thing from any other, or to make any use of the

numeration table, every body leaves /runs out of/ the room that instant But to

proceed. You admitt /There is nothing very alarming to you/ the distinction between

the public and individuals.

Anti-Reformist. Not much: although individuals, if I am not mistaken are the matter

/stuff/ of which the public was made.

Reformist. Well then, if it should turn out that by such and such individual, would

be made to suffer, be it more or less, such sufferance you will admitt would be

sufficient to constitute an evil – an Election evil – although it should not appear

that by the cause in question evil in any other shape would attach upon the public at

large

Anti-Reformist. To be sure I will /No objection do I see/.

{Reformist. Evils hurtful to the public only, evils hurtful to individuals only,

evils hurtful to the public and to individuals together – /in/ this division you see

is /I have/ an exhaustive one.}

{Anti-Reformist. Oh yes: much good may it do you with it:}