it is to be feared, though fufficiently enlightened to become fenfible of their late abject flavery, have not virtue enough to be trufted with their freedom; but, like the Romans, in the time of Marcus Brutus, will want another tyrant, with a ftrong military force, to keep them in awe:* as a maniac is fafer under a keeper in his dark cell, than when let loofe to the conduct of his own diftorted imagination. But what ftronger argument can we have against the happiness of a democratick government, than from Mr. P-ne's favourite republick of Athens? which was perpetually rent by feuds and factions; and where every man that was eminent for his virtues, or diftinguifhed for his zeal in the fervice of his country, inftead of being rewarded with a title, was fure to end his days in banishment or in a prifon; as Miltiades, Themiftocles, Ariftides, Phocion, and many others really did. If it be faid, that by this jealous vigilance, they secured their freedom,—I anfwer,

that

*The Romans, after the expulfion of their kings, are often faid, to have been a free people; but were they a happy people? What period of their hiftory can we fix upon (when they were not engaged in foreign wars) that they were free from civil commotions? When their conquefts were extended, and their wealth increased, their forums or great fquares, and their field of Mars, were fields of blood.

Ariftides was confeffedly banished for having distinguished himself amongst his fellow-citizens by his ftrict regard to justice.

that the most defpotick monarchy cannot be worse than fuch a nominal freedom, which exposes a man to the caprice of that many-headed monster, a ferocious, tyrannical populace.*

In short, notwithstanding the late extraordinary difcoveries in politicks, I cannot but conclude that fome kind of fubordination is effential to government; and that fome little mystery in the adminiftration of it is more conducive to the good of the whole, than that familiar intercourfe between the governors and the governed, which this boasted equality holds forth, and where the well-informed and the ignorant have an equal right to give their opinions, and to perplex and impede the operations of government, Mr. Paine's plaufible maxim, "That all men are born equal," feems now generally understood and exploded by people of sense. All men are born with an equal right to liberty and property; yet none but a madman would say, that they are born with equal capacities and talents fit for places of trust or publick employment. His pernicious doctrines, however, have diffused such a spirit

of

*Since this was fent to the prefs, the French populace have perpetrated fuch horrid maffacres, under a pretence of securing their liberty, that I hope, we fhall hear no more of the mischief ascribed to fanaticism or religious fury.

"Tantum libertas potuit fuadere malorum. LUCRET.

of disobedience to lawful authority, as is deftructive of all government. However, though the people are so industriously taught, not only to "Speak evil of dignities, but to laugh at them," I would by no means with to fee the enfigns of power abolished; nor advise our judges to lay afide their furs or folemn wigs; our nobility their parliamentary robes; or even the clergy their decent habiliments; which, when vefted with legal authority, and supported " by inward greatness, unaffected wisdom, and fanctity of manners," must have a beneficial influence on fociety, and tend to keep in awe the moft profligate offenders.

The Romans, in the pureft ages of the republick, had their enfigns of office, their ivory chair, their robe of state, their fafces, and the like. And if any buffoon had dared to ridicule even that bundle of faggot-fticks carried before the Confuls, he would probably, in that free state, have been feverely scourged with the rods, and perhaps have felt the keen edge of the axe, which was bound up in the midst of them.

POSTSCRIPT.

As the prefent fituation of the Royal Family of France engages univerfal attention, I cannot forbear inserting the following extract from Dr. Adam Sinith, on diftinction of ranks:

"That

"That kings are the fervants of the publick (fays "he) is the doctrine of reafon and philofophy; but it " is not the doctrine of nature. Their conduct muft ❝ have excited the highest degree of fear, hatred, and "refentment, before the bulk of the people can be (c brought to oppose them, or defire to see them pu"nished or depofed: even when they have been brought "this length, they are apt to relent, and relapse into "their habitual ftate of deference to those whom they "have been accuftomed to look upon as their natural fuperiors. Compassion soon takes place of refent"ment: they forget all paft provocations, and return "to their old principles of loyalty and fubmiffion. "The death of Charles the first brought about the "restoration of the Royal Family."

Moral Sent. vol. I. p. 128.

See also a curious account from Plutarch, of the triumph of Paulus Emilius over the king of Macedon, page 134.

ON

OFFICIOUS DEMAGOGUES.

TOWA

WARDS the end of laft autumn, I spent a month with an old acquaintance in the country: he is the clergyman of a large village, in a fequestered valley, inhabited chiefly by fubftantial farmers, and the cottagers employed by them in the cultivation of their farms. As I am an early riser, I was highly gratified to observe with what cheerfulness and alacrity they all went out in the morning to their refpective employments: the plowman whistling after his team; the woodman with his bill-hook, followed by his faithful cur; the milk-maid finging beneath her cow; and the fober farmer fuperintending the whole: and on a Sunday attending the publick worship, as their ancestors had done before them; and refpectfully bowing to their rector as he paffed by them, entirely satisfied with the plain doctrine with which he fupplied them. And fuch is the cafe, I am perfuaded, in many of the lefsfrequented parts of the kingdom, where luxury, and the examples of the wealthy and extravagant, have not yet extended their baneful influence.

Woe