these occafions, ferves to generate settled habits of con defcenfion and refpect; and as human life is more embittered by affronts than injuries, whatever contributes to procure mildness and civility of manners towards those who are most liable to fuffer from a contrary behaviour, corrects, with the pride, in a great measure the evil of inequality, and deferves to be accounted amongst the moft generous inftitutions of focial life.

III. The fatisfaction which the people in free governments derive from the knowledge and agitation of political fubjects; fuch as the proceedings and debates of the fenate; the conduct and character of minifters; the revolutions, intrigues, and contentions of parties; and, in general, from the difcuffion of public measures, queftions, and occurrences.-Subjects of this fort excite juft enough of intereft and emotion, to afford a moderate engagement to the thoughts, without rifing to any painful degree of anxiety, or ever leaving a fixed oppreffion upon the fpirits and what is this, but the end and aim of all thofe amusements, which compofe fo much of the bufinefs of life and the value of riches?-For my part, and I believe it to be the cafe with most men, who are arrived at the middle age, and occupy the middle classes of life; had I all the money, which I pay in taxes to government, at liG 2

berty

berty to lay out upon amusement and diverfion, I know not whether I could make choice of any, in which I should find greater pleasure, than what I receive from expecting, bearing, and relating public news; reading parliamentary debates, and proceedings; canvassing the political arguments, projects, predictions, and intelligence, which are conveyed, by various channels, to every corner of the kingdom.-These topics, exciting univerfal curiofity, and being fuch as almost every man is ready to form, and prepared to deliver their opinion about, greatly promote, and, I think, improve converfation.-They render it more rational and more innocent. They fupply a fubfiitute for drinking, gaming, fcandal, and obfcenity.-Now the fecrecy, the jealousy, the folitude, and precipitation of defpotic governments, exclude all this.-But the lofs, you fay, is trifling. I know that it is poffible to render even the mention of it ridiculous, by representing it as the idle employment of the most infignificant part of the nation, the folly of village-ftatesmen, and coffee-houfe politicians; but I allow nothing to be a trifle, which ministers to the harmlefs gratification of multitudes; nor any order of men to be infignificant, whofe number bears a refpectable proportion to the fum of the whole communitya,

a Paley.

THE

THE PRINCIPLE

OF THE

DIFFERENT FORMS OF GOVERNMENT.

SECT. V.

PUBLIC VIRTUE THE SUPPORT OF A DEMOCRACY.

There is no great fhare of probity neceffary to fupport a MONARCHICAL or DESPOTIC GOVERNMENT.-The force of laws in the one, and the prince's arm in the other, are fufficient to direct and maintain the whole.--But in a POPULAR STATE, one Spring more is necessary, namely,

VIRTUE.

What I have here advanced is confirmed by the unanimous teftimony of historians, and is extremely agreeable to the nature of things.-For it is clear, that in a MONARCHY, where he who commands the execution of the laws, generally thinks himself above them, there is lefs need of virtue than in a POPULAR GOVERNMENT, where the perfon entrusted with the execution of the laws, is fenfible of his being fubject to their direction.

Clear

Clear it is, alfo, that a MONARCH, who through bad advice or indolence ceases to enforce the execution of the laws, may easily repair the evil; he has only to follow other advice; or to shake off this indolence.-But when, in a POPULAR GOVERNMENT, there is a fufpenfion of the laws, as this can proceed only from the corruption of the republic, the fate is certainly undone.

A very curious fight it was in the last century to behold the impotent efforts of the English towards the establishment of democracy.-As they who had a fhare in the direction of public affairs were devoid of virtue; as their ambition was inflamed by the fuccefs of the most daring of their members; as the prevailing parties were fucceffively animated by the spirit of faction, the government was continually changing; the people, amazed at fo many revolutions, in vain attempted to erect a commonwealth.-AT LENGTH, WHEN THE COUNTRY HAD UNDERGONE THE MOST VIOLENT SHOCKS, THEY WERE OBLIGED TO HAVE RECOURSE TO THE VERY GOVERNMENT WHICH THEY HAD SO WANTONLY PROSCRIBED.

When Sylla thought of reftoring Rome to her liberty, this unhappy city was incapable of that bleffing.-She had

a Cromwell.

only

only the feeble remains of virtue, which were continually diminishing: inftead of being roufed out of her lethargy by Cæfar, Tiberius, Caius, Claudius, Nero, Domitian, she riveted every day her chains; if he firuck fome blows, her aim was at the tyrant, but not at the ufurpation.

WHEN VIRTUE IS BANISHED, AMBITION INVADES

THE MINDS OF THOSE WHO ARE DISPOSED TO RECEIVE IT, AND AVARICE POSSESSES THE WHOLE COMMUNITY. -THE OBJECTS OF THEIR DESIRES ARE CHANGED; WHAT THEY WERE FOND OF BEFORE, IS BECOME INDIFFERENT; THEY WERE FREE, WHILE UNDER THE RESTRAINT OF LAWS, BUT THEY WOULD FAIN NOW BE FREE TO ACT AGAINST LAW; AND AS EACH CITIZEN IS LIKE A SLAVE WHO HAS RUN AWAY FROM HIS MASTER, WHAT WAS A MAXIM OF EQUITY, HE CALLS RIGOUR; WHAT WAS A RULE OF ACTION, HE STILES CONSTRAINT; AND TO PRECAUTION HE GIVES THE NAME OF FEAR.-FRUGALITY, AND NOT THE THIRST OF GAIN, NOW PASSES FOR AVARICE.-FORMERLY THE WEALTH OF INDIVIDUALS CONSTITUTED THE PUBLIC TREASURE; BUT NOW THIS IS BECOME THE PATRIMONY OF PRIVATE PERSONS. THE MLMBERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH RIOT ON THE PUBLIC.

SPOILS,