text_original: There was a just and general conviction that if the Government were left to themselves they would do nothing. When they were driven into any course, of improvement they usually did all they could to minimise the amount of reform to be effected.
text_transcription: THERE WAS A JUST AND GENERAL CONVICTION THAT IF THE GOVERNMENT WERE LEFT TO THEMSELVES THEY WOULD DO NOTHING WHEN THEY WERE DRIVEN INTO ANY COURSE OF IMPROVEMENT THEY USUALLY DID ALL THEY COULD TO MINIMISE THE AMOUNT OF REFORM TO BE EFFECTED
phonemes: ðɛɹwˌʌz ɐ dʒˈʌst ænd dʒˈɛnɚɹəl kənvˈɪkʃən ðæt ɪf ðə ɡˈʌvɚnmənt wɜː lˈɛft tə ðɛmsˈɛlvz ðeɪ wʊd dˈuː nˈʌθɪŋ. wˌɛn ðeɪ wɜː dɹˈɪvən ˌɪntʊ ˌɛni kˈɔːɹs, ʌv ɪmpɹˈuːvmənt ðeɪ jˈuːʒuːəli dˈɪd ˈɔːl ðeɪ kʊd tə mˈɪnɪmˌaɪz ðɪ ɐmˈaʊnt ʌv ɹᵻfˈɔːɹm təbi ɪfˈɛktᵻd.