Page:Works of the Late Doctor Benjamin Franklin (1793).djvu/220

210 By whom this court is commiſſioned or conſtituted. It is not by any commiſſion from the ſupreme executive council, who might previouſly judge of the abilities, integrity, knowledge, &c. of the perſon to be appointed to this great truſt, of deciding upon the characters and good fame of the citizens: for this court is above that council, and may accuſe, judge, and condemn it at pleaſure. Nor is it hereditary, as is the court of dernier reſort in the peerage of England. But any man who can procure pen, ink, and paper, with a preſs, a few types, and a huge pair of blacking balls, may commiſſionate himſelf, and his court is immediately eſtabliſhed in the plenary poſſeſſion and exerciſe of its rights. For if you make the leaſt complaint of the judge's conduct, he daubs his blacking balls in your face wherever he meets you: and beſides tearing your private character to ſplinters, marks you out for the odium of the public, as an enemy to the liberty of the preſs. Of the natural ſupport of this court.

Its ſupport is founded in the depravity of ſuch minds as have not been mended by religion, nor improved by good education. There is a luſt in man no charm can tame, Of loudly publiſhing his neighbour's ſhame. Hence, On eagles' wings, immortal ſcandals fly, While virtuous actions are but born and die.

Whoever feels pain in hearing a good character of his neighbour, will feel a pleaſure in the reverſe. And of thoſe who, deſpairing to riſe