STUDY VII. - 49 



takes place, when it referves to a particular 

 clafs of citizens, the benefits which ought to be 

 common to all. It is not fufficient to prefcribe 

 limits to the People, and to reftrain them within 

 thefc by terrifying phantoms. They quickly force 

 the perfon who puts them in motion, to tremble 

 more than themfelves. When human policy locks 

 the chain round the ancle of a flave. Divine Juf- 

 tice rivets the other end round the neck of the 

 tyrant. 



Few Republics have been more judicioufly con- 

 ftituted than that of Lacedemon. Virtue and hap- 

 pinefs were feen to flourifli there, during a period 

 of five hundred years. Notvvithftanding the me- 

 diocrity of it's extent, it gave law to Greece, and 

 to the northern coafts of Afia ; but as Lycurgus 

 had not comprehended in his plan either the Na- 

 tions which Sparta was to fubdue, or even the 

 Helots, who laboured the ground for her, by 

 them were introduced the commotions which 

 fliattered her conftitution, and at length totally 

 fubverted it. 



In the Roman Republic there fubfifted greater 

 equality, and proportionally more power and hap- 

 pinefs. She was, indeed, divided into Patricians 

 and Plebeians ; but as thefe lail were capable of 

 attaining the higheft military dignities, as they 



VOL. II. E poffefTed, 



