[129b-492]

15 April 1817

Plan Cat

Note (a)?

Introd

§. Attendance

3

The leaders – does it happen to them to have an interest – a special /an incidental/ interest in delay? When an event of the sort in question /let it/ takes place, here is a reason: a reason for delay in a state of things in which perhaps neither reason nor so much as a tolerably plausible pretence could have been given. Now[?] they have /for them[?] should have/ the usage of the House and that usage inviolable. On the other hand /But/ suppose that when an incident /a misfortune/ of the kind in question happens /takes place/, promptitude not delay is the object of their wishes. The power is in their hands – sooner than fail, no dust[?] no fictions to which they would not have recourse. At the opening of a Parliament Before a Speaker has been chosen for the purpose of meeting to make a House for choosing and a Clerk of the House officiating in the Speakers place. In the case here supposed this Clerk, who before the official[?] experience of the Speaker has commenced, must be singularly incapable if he did not make a better /fitter/ Speaker than the Speaker himself, this Clerk – or rather than fail, the picture of the Speaker or a picture of the Clerk would be set up for the purpose.