Page:Thoughts on civil liberty, on licentiousness and faction.djvu/114

 unbiassed and steady Prosecution of the public Welfare.

Another Circumstance unfavourable to the public Virtue of the higher Ranks presents itself. Their Situation leads them to expect, and to claim, the great and lucrative Offices of the State. I need not here point out, how strongly This tends to betray them into the Extremes of selfish Views, Ambition, Party-Rage, Licentiousness, and Faction.

Add to all these Considerations, their frequent and long-continued Meetings in the Capital: A Circumstance which, from the powerful Effects of free Communication, cannot but inflame all these Causes of political Dissention.

If we next examine the State of the Populace of the great Cities, we shall find that Their Situation naturally exposes them to such Temptations as lead to factious Conduct, when not early fortify'd by a virtuous Education. They