1819 Jan. y 5 +

Parl. Reform Bill

Dialogue

Preliminary View

Evils & Remedies

Remedies

Miselection

Levelling impracticable

10

1

27

22

1. No promise[?] to[?]

2. Being satisfied without outrage the majority would oppose outrage[?]

Anti-Reformist. But, admitting that by your Electors by your universal-suffrage men

the sort of mischief in question would not be effected in a legal way, through and by

Parliament, might it not and to an indefinite extent be effected in an illegal way,

and in spite of Parliament

Reformist. Yes, if an effect can be produced by human action without either means or

motives. Be the mischief what it may, I will /am ready to/ admitt the probability of

it under the virtually universal suffrage system, provided /if/ you will admitt /on

condition of you admitt/ it to be less than under the existing system, not otherwise

Anti-Reformist. Exemplary candour, it must be confessed. But now for /as to/ the

grounds of it.

Reformist. If either adequate means /motives/ or adequate motives are seen by you to

be wanting, your apprehension, I presume will not be great.

Anti-Reformist. No: they will be found wanting likewise.

Reformist. Well, then: first as to the means. At the commencement at any rate of the

supposed enterprize, the army, the militia the navy will remain in the same safe

hands as at present. So likewise the legal power of raising supplies of men and

money, and /together with/ all the property out of which money can be raised. Turn

now to the people’s side. The ready armed men by whom this revolution of yours is to

be effected, whence /where/ are they to come /from/? Out of the earth, from so many

dragons’ teeth sowed by M r Cobbet in the character of Cadmus? The

money too – where is that to come from? From the moon, in the midst of a shower of

aerolithes?