JB/117/340/001

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To be explicit, so far as concerns prices and expences,
and pecuniary means and resources of all sorts, I must
beg leave once for all to decline entering into any particulars
beyond what are contained in the contract that was agreed on.

Of the consequence of the discussions which any such specification
would bring on, I am not altogether without experience:
— A special good bargain you are making for yourself
says one:— It will never do, it can't be done for the money;
you will ruin yourself: says another. Such was the language I
used to be continually hearing in conversation among friends.

Now apply this to the case of a Committee of Parliament
consisting suppose of a score of Members. By a majority out
out of one half score the price is deemed excessive, and such
that on that account the contract ought to be set aside: by a majority
out of the other half score the same sums are deemed
deficient, and so deficient as to shew the undertaking to be
impracticable, and such that on that account the contract
ought to be set aside. In the case of each member as in
the case of any individual taken singly the chances
are as infinitely to one that the quantum will not
exactly quadrate with his views of what it ought to be.

In settling the terms of the contract with the Treasury no
such enquiries were ever made. I should not expect to hear
that any such had ever been made in any other instance.

If it had been said to me — After having been settled with
us, the terms will be to be examined into and settled anew
by a Committee of Parliament I should immediately have
declined the business. Competence being altogether out of
doubt I should not expect to find that in point of fact any such
Committee

Identifier: | JB/117/340/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 117.
Date_1		Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	117	Main Headings	panopticon
Folio number	340	Info in main headings field
Image	001	Titles
Category	copy/fair copy sheet	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	f6
Penner	john herbert koe	Watermarks
Marginals		Paper Producer
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year
Notes public	letter 2106, vol. 8	ID Number	38957
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