SKETCH II.

TH

General View of Government.

HE progrefs of government, accuratedelineated, would produce a great volume: in the present work there is room but for a few hints. What are the qualities that fit men for fociety, is explained above; but writers are far from being unanimous about what fits them for government. All agree, that fubmiffion to our governors is a duty: but they appear to be at a lofs upon what foundation to rest that duty; as if it were not evident, that, by our nature, we are fitted for government as well as for fociety (a). If justice or veracity be effential to society, fubmiffion to government is no less fo; and each of thefe equally is declared by the moral sense to be our duty. But, to qualify man for government, the duty of fubmiffion is not alone fufficient: diverfity of temper, and of talents, are alfo

(a) Principles of Equity, p. 177. edit. 2.

neceffary;

neceffary; and accordingly it is fo ordered by Providence, that there are never wanting, in any fociety, men who are qualified to lead, as well as men who are disposed to follow. Where a number of people convene for any purpose, some will naturally affume authority without the formality of election, and the reft will as naturally fubmit. A regular government, founded on laws, was probably not thought of, till people had frequently fuffered by vicious governors *.

During the infancy of national focieties, government is extremely fimple; and no lefs mild than fimple. No individual is, by nature, entitled to exercife magifterial authority over his fellows; for no individual is born with any mark of

* At first, when a certain regimen was one approved, it may be that all was permitted to the wifdom and difcretion of those who were to rule; till, by experience, this was found very inconvenient, so as the thing devised for a remedy did increase the fore which it fhould have cured. They faw, "that, to live by "one man's will became the cause of all men's mifery." This constrained them to come into laws, wherein all men might fee their duty beforehand, and know the penalties of tranfgreffing them; Hooker's Eccl. Pol. 1. x. $ 10.

pre-eminence to vouch that he has fuch a privilege. But nature teaches respect for men of age and experience: who accordingly take the lead in deliberating and advising, leaving execution to the young and vigorous *. War indeed cannot be carried on without a commander; but originally his authority was limited to actual war; and he returned home a private person, even when crowned with victory. The wants of men were originally fo few and so easily satisfied, as feldom to occafion a controverfy among members of the fame tribe. And men, finding vent for their diffocial paffions against other tribes, were fond to live peaceably at

Such as are acquainted with no manners but what are modern, will be puzzled to account for the great veneration paid to old age in early times. Be fore writing was invented, old men were the repofi. tories of knowledge, which they acquired by expe. rience; and young men had no access to knowledge but from them. At the fiege of Troy, Neftor, who had seen three generations, was the chief adviser and director of the Greeks. But, as books are now the most patent road to knowledge, to which the old and young have access, it may justly be said, that by the invention of writing and printing, old men have loft much of their priftine importance.

VOL. II.

Ff

home.

home. Introduction of money made an amazing change. Wealth, beftowed by fortune or procured by rapine, made an impreffion on the vulgar: different ranks were recognized: the rich became imperious, and the poor mutinous. Selfishnefs, prevailing over focial affection, flirred up every man against his neighbour; and men, overlooking their natural enemies, gave vent to diffocial paffions within their own tribe. It became neceffary to ftrengthen the hands of the fovereign, for repreffing paffions inflamed by opulence, which tend to diffolution of fociety. This flight view fairly accounts for the gradual progrefs of government from the mildeft form to the most defpotic. The fecond part of the progrefs is more pleafing. Men long inured to the authority of government, acquire a habit of repreffing their turbulent paffions; and becoming by degrees regular and orderly, they are easily reftrained from doing wrong.

In every nation originally democracy was the first form of government. Before ranks were diftinguished, every single man. was entitled to vote in matters of common concern. When a tribe becomes too nu

merous

merous for making one body, or for being convened in one place, the management falls naturally to the elders of the people; who, after acquiring authority by cuftom, are termed the fenate. At first, little more was thought of, but that to govern great numbers a fenate is neceffary: time unfolded the conftitution of that body and

its powers.

With respect to the senate of old Rome in particular, even the mode of election was long ambulatory; and it is natural to believe that its powers were no lefs fo; till length of time introduced regularity and order. From this form of government, the transition is easy to a limited monarchy. Abfolute monarchy, contradictory to the liberty that all men fhould enjoy in every government, can never be established but by force. Government among all nations has made the progrefs above delineated. There are exceptions; but thefe have arisen from fingular events.

To a nation accustomed to liberty and independence, arbitrary government is a fore disease. But awe and fubmiffion are alfo natural; and a life of dependence

probably