[clxvii. 280]

1821 Aug. 1

Rid Yourselves

4. Supposable resource 4.Emolum t from Ultramarian Offices

As to conquest, take notice that in speaking of it I do not speak of it as capable of forming a just ground for any such plunderage: all I say is - that even if it did, this claim against the descendants of the conquerors would not be any thing the better for it.

Another thing. Corruption! Corruptive influence! Never - on this occasion, or on any other, let this political poison, or the name it is called by, be out of your minds This matter out of which fortunes are thus proposed to be made in pretence of service rendered - this matter suppose it allowed to be collected, what is it but so much of the matter of corruptive influence? so much poison to your Constitution: poison to the Constitution of every country that has one:- poison to the Constitution of every such country wherever situated; Under the present head, merely to try your attraction for it, is any mention made of it: it belongs to another head, and under that head I shall have to present it to your view.H Meantime suffer me here to give you notice, that in my vocabulary corruption is not as in some, a term of vague and unmeaning sentimentalism. By it is designated the source of that sinister interest; by which in every department of the government the agents and trustees of the people are, in every limited Monarchy, made to betray their trust, and practice misrule in every shape. By possession in prospect of needless and excessive official emolument attached to offices, kept up or created in and for the prosecution of this claim, men will be engaged on the support of a system whereby the like waste and depredation will be confirmed and extended in the several other departments: in a word the interest of you the subject many will on every occasion that can be mentioned be made a sacrifice of to the particular and sinister interests of those several sections of the ruling few. I hope the announcement is plain enough, whatever the proof may be.

HLetter 8 th