Page:Thoughts on civil liberty, on licentiousness and faction.djvu/90

, who should come armed with such an Apologue, for the Conviction of a British House of Commons.

Again: In each of these ancient Republics, the collective Body of the People were much of one uniform Character; being Inhabitants of the same City, and nearly on a Level with Respect to Employment and Property. In, they were all Artisans or Tradesmen: In and , they were all Soldiers. A low Degree of Knowledge was their general Lot: For much Knowledge can only be acquired by much Leisure; which their Occupations did not allow. The People of were intentionally virtuous: Those of  were corrupt: Those of  were of a mixed Character. As these free States voted not by Representatives, the Presence of the People was necessary, in all Decisions of a public Nature: Hence, such a People from their Ignorance, Wants, collective Presence, and Pride of Power, must ever and suddenly be