JStdtistical JVolices^ flB9 



the destruction of the Roman inonarchy, left scarcely any 

 other division of the people than those of tyrant and vassal, 

 could only be effectually .brol<en by the rise of great towns. 

 These communities were alone competent to resist the aristo- 

 ci^atical and subordinate despotisms into which all the nations 

 of Europe were subdivided, and -which, as is well known, 

 •overawed the throne, w^hilst they enslaved the people. In 

 IfiOnfirmation of this, it Tnay be remarked, that the free repub- 

 lics of antiquity, as well as those of the middle ages, derived the 

 spirit >vhich nurtured them almost entirely from the capital 

 -Ctty^ and though, in the former case, there was scarcely any 

 commerce to excite the activity of the people, yet the mere 

 congregation of a numerous body of men sastained the power 

 of public opinion. i^ :>kf>^ 



/I But the most important question remains hehind. Is a 

 bivil community thus constituted favourable to individual vir- 

 tue and happiness ? This is assuredly the point which it most 

 behoves us to ascertain, since no truism is more obvious than, 

 that power and opulence, and refinement and splendour, and 

 even liberty itself, are only so far valuable as they tend to make 

 men wiser, and better, and happier. Is it true, then, that 

 Great Britain has anteceded other nations in these fundamental 

 points, as much as in those we have just described ? This ques- 

 tion cannot be answered without some hesitation : for we may 

 say, with Addison's facetious Knight, *' that a great deal may 

 be urged on both sides." On the one hand it is certain that 

 our situation is eminently favourable to intellectual improve- 

 ment. The increasing spread of instruction, and the rapid 

 advancement of knowledge which are necessarily concurrent 

 with our career of prosperity, must ultimately advance us in 

 the scale of moral and rational agents. If knowledge be power, 

 itis>i<also happiness; for communities as well as individuals 

 woiild all be happy if they knew how to be so. It is also 

 certain that the incessant struggles of competition and the 

 strenuous efforts for distinction which are always at work in 

 an over-peopled and highly refined country are favourable to 

 the active virtues. They operate amongst the higher classes 

 to provide many objects of laudable ambition ; and amongst the 

 lower, afford perpetual facilities for bettering their condition^ 



