JB/109/085/001

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6th

constant and active in the hearts of men, that the best constitution and
the best theories of reform can be of no avail; to warn you against
that mischievous belief, that nothing is to be done unless certain measures
can be effected. I think much of the cause of reform, but not that
it is of that exclusive importance which supersedes every other
effort, and without which nothing is to be done. what institutions
are perfect? All have suffered much from abuses and operations
of time. But pursue the conduct I have advised, and you will
find a fellow labourer assiduous with yourselves to apply the
necessary remedies upon the principles and conditions
which I have stated. But are the securities of the constitution
really so defective, that, in the present state, if the people
make their voice heard, it is not likely to be effective upon
their representatives? My belief is the reverse. –
I implore you to discharge this notion from your minds,
if ever it had any influence, and till that season shall arrive
when a greater reform can be accomplished, to direct your
efforts in availing yourselves of this opportunity of rendering
service to your country. Exert yourselves to check and control
profusion – to procure a system of economy and of retrenchment
in all unnecessary expenditure – to reduce all unconstructional
establishments – to correct the evils of a paper circulation not
founded on cash – to amend the criminal law where it is defective,
which every day proves more demanding of amendment –
to extend to all classes of your fellow subjects those rights and
privileges which many have hitherto asked in vain. These are
objects of no inferior importance, and let me you not to
neglect them. They are within your reach, and certainly
attainable, if the People of England are only true to themselves
and will exert the power which they possess over parliament
under their present constitution (applause). I was about to
conclude, but in stating the objects that required your exertion,
there was one mentioned on which I shall observe, and
which must have occasioned the most painful recollections.
It is impossible to notice the state of the criminal law, and to
be reminded of the dreadful loss we have all sustained.

Identifier: | JB/109/085/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 109.
Date_1		Marginal Summary Numbering	Sep-13
Box	109	Main Headings	Parliamentary Reform
Folio number	085	Info in main headings field
Image	001	Titles	6th
Category	Collectanea	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering
Penner		Watermarks
Marginals		Paper Producer
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year
Notes public		ID Number	35740
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