A PROPOSAL, &c.1

A GREAT question is now agitating in this nation, which no man or party of men is competent to decide; indeed there are no materials of evidence which can afford a foresight of the result. Yet on its issue depends whether we are to be slaves or freemen.

It is needless to recapitulate all that has been said about Reform. Every one is agreed that the House of Commons is not a representation of the people. The only theoretical question that remains is, whether the people ought to legislate for themselves, or be governed by laws and impoverished by taxes originating in the edicts of an assembly which represents somewhat less

The first page of the MS. is headed An Address to the Reformers; but the words are struck out.

2 The word in is cancelled in the MS., but appears in the printed pamphlet. After nation, the words which waits are struck out.

3 Cancelled MS. readings after decide; or to foresee-and which—

& the manner of the decision of which no one is able to predict. On its issue-On the issue.

4 Cancelled MS. reading, ought to be represented or not.

5 After laws the words assented and which are cancelled.

Cancelled MS. reading edicts of somewhat less.

I

than a thousandth part of the intire community. think they ought not to be so taxed and governed. An hospital for lunatics is the only theatre where we can conceive so mournful a comedy to be exhibited as this mighty nation now exhibits a single person bullying and swindling a thousand of his comrades out of all they possessed in the world, and then trampling and spitting2 upon them, though he were the most contemptible and degraded of mankind, and they had strength in their arms and courage in their hearts. Such a parable realised in political society is a spectacle worthy of the utmost indignation and abhorrence.

The prerogatives of Parliament 'constitute a sovereignty which is exercised in contempt of the People, and it is in strict consistency with the laws of human nature that it should have been exercised for the People's misery and ruin. Those whom they despise, men instinctively seek to render slavish and wretched, that their scorn may be secure. It is the object of the Reformers to restore the People to a sovereignty thus held in their contempt. It is my object, or I would be silent now.

Servitude is sometimes voluntary. Perhaps the People choose to be enslaved; perhaps it is their will to be degraded and ignorant and famished; perhaps custom is

1 The words as that are struck out before a single.

2 In the MS. trample and spit. 3 To see cancelled before such. 4 Cancelled reading, have been exercised in contempt.

is.

5 Cancelled reading, has been for

6 The word obedience is here struck out.

7 Cancelled MS. reading, to restore the people to their Rights, or

rather to excite them to possess themselves of those rights; and again, sovereignty which has been usurped.

8 Cancelled passage-perhaps the fanaticism of custom has wooed them to its inchantments so securely that they would rather see their wives & children starve by inches, rather hear

see without indignation all the contumelies of the proud & the powerful, rather work sixteen hours a day.

their only God, and they its fanatic worshippers' will shiver in frost and waste in famine rather than deny that idol; perhaps the majority of this nation decree3 that they will not be represented in Parliament, that they will not deprive of power" those who have reduced them to the miserable condition in which they now exist. It is their will-it is their own concern. If such be their decision, the champions of the rights and the mourners over the errors and calamities of man, must retire to their homes in silence, until accumulated sufferings shall have produced the effect of reason.

The question now at issue is, whether the majority of the adult individuals of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland desire or no a complete representation in the Legislative Assembly.

I have no doubt that such is their will," and I believe this is the opinion of most persons conversant with the state of the public feeling. But the fact ought to be formally ascertained before we proceed." If the majority of the adult population should" solemnly state their desire to be, that's the representatives whom they might appoint should constitute the Commons House of

The words & they are here cancelled.

2 MS. variation pine for waste. 3 Cancelled phrase, that they will live in squalidness & want.

The word to is here inserted in the MS., but does not appear in the printed text.

5 Cancelled reading, their power. 6 The words of paying the are struck out after condition; and after exist, Shelley has cancelled in turn Is such and If such be.

7 MS. variation, until suffering.

8 Cancelled phrase, If that question is answered in the affirmative.

9 MS. variation, desire for will; and private opinion in the next phrase.

10 Cancelled reading it for the fact.

Cancelled line, If the Reformers are really in the...

12 Cancelled reading, shall for should.

13 Cancelled reading, that they should be adequately represented.

Parliament, there is an end to the dispute. Parliament would then be required, not petitioned, to prepare some effectual plan for carrying the general will into effect; and if Parliament should then refuse, the consequences of the contest that might ensue would rest on its presumption and temerity. Parliament would have rebelled.

against the People then.

If the majority of the adult population shall, when seriously called upon for their opinion, determine on grounds however erroneous, that the experiment of innovation by Reform in Parliament is an evil of greater magnitude than the consequences of misgovernment to which Parliament has afforded a constitutional sanction, then it becomes us to be silent; and we should be guilty of the great crime which I have conditionally imputed to the House of Commons, if after unequivocal evidence that it was the national will to acquiesce in the existing system we should, by partial assemblies of the multitude," or by any party acts, excite the minority to disturb this decision.

The first step towards Reform is to ascertain this point.

1 Cancelled reading, for the purpose.

Cancelled MS. reading, would for might and their for its. Shelley has inserted alone after temerity; but the word does not appear in the pamphlet. The next sentence was written as in the text; and then was afterwards transferred to a better position after would; but it may have been retransferred on further consideration when the proof was revised.

3 The words by Reform are an afterthought.

4 Cancelled reading, abuse of pow [er].

Cancelled reading, which springs from its being made the instrument of private; and again, which we all...

Cancelled reading, an unequivocal expression of the general will that they acquiesced.

7 MS. variation, people for multitude; and overawe for disturb in the next line.

8 Cancelled phrases, Let the national will be sacredly... Let the nation be free if it will to be... Let this point...