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518 SWEDENBORG IN THE HOUSE OF NOBLES. [Doc. 181.
III. Statements respecting unjust dealings of a judge in
general, and every other man in particular, also on the im
perfections of our law, may be brought forward by thousands,
and generally on unjust grounds, inasmuch as every one who
loses his case considers himself unjustly treated; as is also
probably the case with the specimen brought forward and
specially mentioned by the Councillor of Commerce himself.
The best course to be followed is to report special cases of
this kind to the Houses of the Diet, when justice will be dealt
out to him who is in the right.
IV. Denunciations against resolutions passed by the Houses
of the Diet I will not touch ,upon, as the Houses themselves
are in session, and are able to express themselves on these
matters.
V. About corrupt practices and the arbitrary power wield
ed by many’(mångvälde), and also by individuals (envälde) at :
the sessions of the Diet, much is said, and by the arbitrary
power wielded by many are meant the combinations, cliques,
or caucuses ( sammansättningar), which are formed at the
various Diets. Hereupon the following answer may be given.
1. In free governments it is impossible to prevent corrupt
practices and power being exercised by cliques on the ground
of such practices; yet these are continually undergoing changes,
i. e. they increase and decrease at every session of the Diet: in
Sweden, however, these practices are much more insignificant
than in England, as is even admitted by the author; moreover,
they cannot grow to such an extent as to be injurious to our govern
ment, inasmuch as we have four Houses, one ofwhich has as much
power as the other; besides every member in each House has the
same right of voting, so that a general and individual counter
balance is provided against corrupt practices and against power
being exercised by combinations. 2. Moreover, corrupt practices
in free governments are like small ripples, compared with large
waves in absolute monarchies (enwälde); in absolute or arbit
rary monarchies favourites and the favourites of favourites, yea
the unlimited monarch himself, are corrupted by men study
ing and appealing to their passions ; of which many terrible
instances may be given , which have taken place in such king
doms. I may be allowed to cite in a few words what has
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