Page:Thoughts on civil liberty, on licentiousness and faction.djvu/154

 exorbitant Power into the Hands of Individuals: And the greater the Inequality between the Poor and Rich, the more the one will ever be under the Influence of the other.

It should seem, then, to be the particular Interest even of the most Wealthy, if they be the real Friends of Liberty,—'tis certainly the general Interest of a free Community; that some legal Limitation of Property should take Place. I speak not of the Probability, but the Expediency of such a Measure.

2. It follows, that some Regulation in Respect to Boroughs would be of great Importance. For in Boroughs, contrary to all sound Policy, "Power is lodged without annexed Property." The natural Consequence is, that "this ill-placed Power will be seized by Those who are possessed of exorbitant Property." Thus Power settles on its natural Foundation: But a Foundation, in this Instance, most dangerous to Freedom; as it leads to the