fome general Remarks on this Propensity of Men in Power to opprefs the People.

There is not a more demonftrable Propofition in Eutlid than this Maxim in Politicks, that the Happiness of the Governors and the Governed is reciprocal; especially in free Countries; and yet, I know not by what Fatality it happens, the former feldom think Themfelves ealy in their Administration, unless the latter yield an abfolute and implicit Obedience to all their Measures. This creates a Diffidence between Them, and hath often ended in the most fatal Confequences to Both.

It hath been a Queftion, much agitated of late, whether the Misfortunes of Nations, in general, have been more owing to the unreasonable Jealoufies of the People, or to the provoking Infolencies and Oppreffions of Thofe in Authority. To fpeak impartially on this Head, it ought to be allow'd that Both have been often to blame, and involved their Country in irretriveable Calamities; but I think it evident from Hiftory that Governors have commonly been the Aggreffors, and led the Way to publick Confufions. The Body of the People, who fubfift upon Trade and Industry, are naturally flow in their Resentments; and, being unable to difcern Dangers at a Distance, are not easily work'd up into Oppofition; but when They are thoroughly exafperated, and fee Oppreffion ftaring Them full in the Face, They are apt to grow violent, and fometimes run into dangerous Extremes.

There is fomething fo bewitching in Power, that We cannot wonder to fee Governors ufing all their Endeavours to extend it; but as the Happiness of the People depends on keeping it within due Bounds, I cannot forbear fufpecting fome ill Design in any private Man, who becomes an Advocate for the Enlargement of Power, in a free Country, whatever Regard He may pretend, at the fame Time, for popular Liberty.

As I was dipping, this Morning, into Cato's Letters, I found fome Remarks there, fo appofite to

my

ny present Purpose, that I shall take the Liberty to quote them.

* "When We hear any fort of Men complain, as "fome fort of Men do frequently complain, that the "CROWN wants Power; We fhould ask Them, whe"ther They mean over Themselves? And if They an"fwer, no; as certainly They will, if They fpeak "Truth; We may farther ask Them, why They "fhould judge for Themselves any more than Others;

or claim to Themselves a Liberty and an Exemption, "which They will not allow to Others? The Truth "is; They, who complain thus, do only want to "increase the Power of the Crown, because by it their own would be increased, and other Advantages "acquired.

"The Fox in the Fable, wanting to rob an Henrooft, or do fome fuch Prank, humbly befought Ad"mittance and Houfe-Room only for his Head; but "when He got in his Head, his whole Body prefently "follow'd; and Courts, more crafty, as well as more craving, than that defigning Animal, have fcarce

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ever got an Inch of Power, but They have ftretch'd "it to an Ell; and when They have got in but a "Finger, their whole Train hath follow'd. Pififtratus, "having procured from the City of Athens fifty Fel"lows, arm'd only with Cudgels, for the Security of "his Perfon from falfe and lying Dangers, improved "Them into an Army, and by it enflaved that free "State. And I have read fomewhere of the States of a Country, who, having wildly granted to their "Prince a Power of raifing Money by his own Authority, in Cafes of great Neceffity; every Cafe ever "afterwards was a Cafe of great Neceffity; and his "Neceffities multiply'd fo faft, that the whole Wealth "of the Country was fwallow'd up to fupply them;

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as it will always be in every Country, where Thofe, "who ask, are fuffer'd to judge what ought to be "given-A Practice, contrary to common Senfe, and

which renders Liberty and Property perfectly pre"carious; and, where it is continued, will end in "taking, without asking.

I have hitherto fpoken of Governors in general, without distinguishing between Princes and their MiniBers; but being always willing to make Allowances for the former, I fhall confine myfelf to Thofe, who abuse their Favour.

It feems unaccountable that Men, in full Poffeffion of Power and Redundancy of Wealth, fhould fo rarely be fatisfied with their Condition; and, not content with the great Preheminence over their Fellow-Subjects, be almoft continually hunting after new Inventions to oppress and provoke Them. In many Cafes, one would think Them intent upon Mischief, purely for Mischief-. fake, by devifing Schemes, which They know will exafperate the People, and perhaps alienate their Affections from the Throne, without any apparent Neceffity, or Temptation for fo doing.

There are Inftances of Minifters, who, having blunder'd Themselves out of a long Series of foreign Blurders, and made an hard Shift to patch up fomething like a Peace, could not reft in Quiet even for a Year or two, but were pufh'd on by the fame bufy Genius to run their Heads in the dark against Stone Walls at home as if They were refolved to verify the Allegations of their Adverfaries, and took a Pride in betraying the fame Ignorance in Matters of domeftick Government, which They had before difcover'd in foreign Affairs.

We have feen fuch Men obftinately pursuing a Scheme, big with Destruction, and infolently declaring, in Oppofition to the known Senfe of a whole People, that it must and fhall go down; because They had gone too far to retreat, without discovering their Weaknefs, and giving their Enemies an Advantage over Them.

Thus

Thus a Nation ought to be ruin'd, according to this modest Doctrine, for no other Reason than to divert a Storm, which one or two rash and guilty Men had drawn upon Themselves.

It must be the greatest Satisfaction to a People, who have been treated in this Manner, to fee fuch Men defeated in their Attempts; and, Thanks to Heaven! They have often been fufficiently humbled and mortify'd. We have feen an infolent, domineering Minifter reduced, after all his Defiances, to the wretched Neceffity of recanting his abufive Reflections, and giving up his infamous Projects, with Tears in his Eyes, which feem'd to flow from an equal Mixture of impotent Rage and Pufillanimity. We have feen Him hurried, by the Consciousness of his own Guilt, into dreadful Apprehenfions of Danger, and skulking through private Paffages for the Security of his Perfon, even whilft He hath been fupported by Power, and environ'd with Guards, in a very extraordinary Manner. Nay, He hath fometimes condefcended, in the meanest Manner, to implore the Protection of that Affembly, which He had long endeavour'd to render ufelefs, and hath been obferved to fhudder with Horror at every Propofition for new Enquiries. In fhort, his Character and Actions have been branded with fuch popular Marks of Indignation, Derifion and Contempt, in all Parts of the Kingdom, that the following Paffages of Cicero's Oration against the fame wicked Minifter, whom I mention'd in my laft Paper, may be literally applied to Him.

His Ego Rebus pafcor, bis delector, his perfruor; quòd de Vobis bic Ordo opinatur non fecus ac de teterrimis Hoftibus; quòd Vos Equites Romani, quòd cæteri Ordines, quòd cuneta Civitas odit; quòd nemo bonus, nemo denique Civis eft, qui modo fe Civem effe meminerit, qui Vos non Oculis fugiat, auribus refpuat, animo afpernetur, Recordatione denique ipsâ Confulatus veftri perbarrefcat-Quis enim Te Aditu, quis ullo Honore, A 3

quis

quis denique communi Salutatione dignum putet? Omnes Memoriam Confulatus tui, Falta, Mores, Faciem denique, ac Nomen à Republica deteftantur.

As I was ruminating very intenfely on this wicked and foolish Conduct of Men in Power, I took a little Nap in my great Chair, and fell into the following Dream, or Vifion, which will not perhaps be unacceptable to my Readers.

I fancy'd myfelf convey'd, on a fudden, to a fumptuous Edifice, in the North-Eaft Part of this City; over the Gates of which were infcribed the following Words, in large Capitals; NO JURIES; NO MAGNA CHARTA. After I had pafs'd through a little Yard, I came methoughts into a fpacious Apartment, which had the Appearance of a Court of Judicature. The Walls were all around adorn'd and diverfify'd with feveral uncommon Emblems of Power. At the upper End of the Room fate eight or nine elderly Perfonages, who feem'd to affect the Gravity of fo many Judges; often laying their wife Heads together, whispering, and nodding, with an Air of magifterial Importance. Each of Them held a little Cane, or Rod, in his Hand, mark'd with arithmetical Numbers, and other mathematical Figures. Whilft I was furveying these odd Sages, and conjecturing with myself what Office They might bear in the Commonwealth, I heard a confused Noife at the Door, and turning myfelf about, faw a Parcel of ill-look'd Ruffians, whom I at firft took for Bum-Bailiffs, dragging in a venerable Matron, whofe Image I have often feen in Painting and Sculpture. She had a long Spear in one Hand, and a Shield in the other; which thefe brutal Fellows endeavour'd, amongst other Indignities, to wreft from Her; but She clinch'd them fast, and maintain'd her Hold, with a Smile of Indignation and Contempt. Having forced Her to the Bar, She was commanded to hold up her Hand, in order to be arraign'd; but She demurr'd to the Jurifdiction of

the