joles them, would hold them in high estimation. Ultimately, perhaps, their present sordid views might be accomplished with greater success; as they certainly would be, if accomplished at all, with more honor and satisfaction.

Instead of separating their interests, I would say, let our commerce and our constitution ever flourish together. Certain I am, that a flourishing commerce, by giving power and consequence to the middle and lower ranks of the people, tends more than all the military associations to preserve the genuine spirit of the constitution.

SECTION XIII.

The Spirit of Despotism displaying itself in private Life, and proceeding thence to avail itself of the Church and the Military.

MANY who enjoy the great advan

tages of distinguished rank and enormous wealth, either hereditary or acquired, not contented with those advantages, seem, by their behaviour, to envy the less fortunate of their species the little happiness they

retain in their humble sphere. Unsatisfied with the elevation which their birth or fortune has given them, they wish to trample on their inferiors, and to force them still lower in society. Base pride! sordid greediness of wretches, who, notwithstanding they are gratified with all external splendor, and pampered even to loathing with plenty of all good things, yet insult those who minister to their luxuries, and who (however deserving by virtue all that the others possess by chance) sit down with a bare competence, and often in want of real necessaries, food, raiment, and habitation.

The insolence of many among the great, who possess neither knowledge nor virtue, nor any quality useful to mankind, and the contempt with which they look down upon men, whom, though both virtuous and useful, they call their inferiors, excites the honest indignation of all who can think and feel, and who are remote from the sphere of corrupting influence. The natural sensations of an honest heart revolt against it. It is not only most highly culpable in a moral view, but extremely dangerous in a political. It arises from the genuine spirit of despotism, and if not checked by the people, must lead to its universal prevalence. Such a spirit would allow no rights to the poor, but those which cannot be ta

ken away, such as the swine possess; the rights of mere animal nature. Such a spirit hates the people, and would gladly anni, hilate all of them, but those who administer to pride and luxury, either as menial ser vants, dependent tradesmen or mechanics, or common soldiers, ready to shed their own and others blood for a morsel of bread.

Even the beasts are held in higher honor by many aristocrats, than the poor people in their vicinage. Dogs and horses are fed, lodged, nay, the horses sometimes clothed sumptuously; while the poor laborers in the cot on the side of the common, are starv ed, scarcely sheltered by their roofs, and almost naked. As you ride by the splen did palace and extensive park of some inheritor of overgrown opulence, some fortu nate adventurer, some favored contractor, pensioner, or placeman, you behold stables and dog-kennels erected in a stile of magnificence; externally grand and internally commodious. The dogs and horses are waited on by MEN appointed for the pur pose, and more amply paid than the laborer, who rises early, and late takes rest in the work of agriculture or manufacture.... After viewing the magnificent stables, proceed a little farther, and you see, on the road-side, and in the village, wretched houses, without glass in the windows; the poor

laborer, his wife, and children in rags; scarcely able to procure the smallest fire in the coldest weather, threatened with prosecution if they pick up sticks in the park; and, if they refuse to endure extreme cold and hunger, in danger of being hanged, and certain of imprisonment. The great man, who spends much of his time in the stable and kennel, and who caresses the horses and dogs, condescends not to enter the cottages. He receives the lowly obeisance of the inhabitants without returning it. Look at yonder corner of his park, and you see a board with an inscription, threatening all who enter with MAN traps and spring guns. If, tempted by hunger, the poor man should venture to catch a hare or patridge, the horse-whip is threatened, and perhaps inflicted in the first instance: and on a repetition of the atrocious crime, he and his whole family are turned out of their cottage; happy if himself be not imprisoned, though the bread of the helpless depends on his li berty and labor.

This petty tyrant of a village domain shall nevertheless think himself entitled to represent the next borough in Parliament. What can be expected from such a wretch, but that he should be as servilely mean and obsequious to a minister, as he is cruel and unfeeling in his behaviour to the poor of his

vicinity? He has shewn already the dispo sitions of a Nero and Domitian in miniature; and if he could obtain a throne, his sceptre would be a rod of iron. He would be inclined to consider all the people as a tribe of POACHERS.

If no considerable district of a country be without such overbearing despots; if they are viewed without abhorrence, and considered as assuming only the common privileges of country gentlemen; if such men, availing themselves of a corrupt state of representation, often procure a share in the legislature; is not that country, if there be such an one, in danger of being over. run with the spirit of despotism? Are not the YEOMANRY, who are usually tenants of these lordly Nimrods, likely to be influenced by them, through fear of losing their farms, in their votes, and in all their senti. ments and conduct? And will not Liberty lose some of her ablest, as they were probably among her sincerest and manliest, defenders, when the yeomanry desert her banners?

Among all that description of persons who have been lately called ARISTOCRATS, proud and selfish in their nature, Tories and Jacobites in their political principles, it is obvious to remark the most haughty, overbearing manners in the transactions of