40 



and decorous, are thus presented to the mind. Look on 

 the small state of Athens, scarce larger than a single county 

 of England, and consider what admirable things she per- 

 formed, in architecture, painting, sculpture, eloquence, po- 

 etr}^ and philosophy. Many of her wonders have survived 

 the wreck of time, and are still inimitable by modern art. 

 We are astonished at the mighty exertions, the superb mo- 

 numents, of a small state like Athens. But the wonder is 

 explained, when Ave considei", that the love of glory, joined 

 with frugality, may affect as much as vanity, combined 

 with wealth and luxury. Democracy encourages the spirit 

 of frugality in the individual, as much as monarchy does 

 the love of splendor. 



The eloquence of Greece surpassed that of Rome; be- 

 cause, in democracies, eloquence chiefly flourishes. It is 

 there a great engine of government: all things are trans- 

 acted openly, and on debate : it is the key to the affec- 

 tions of the people: it becomes the means of rising to the 

 first honours of the state. Thus Greece anciently became 

 the great school and theatre of eloquence. In a demo- 

 cracy, and in a despotism, there is an equality; but these 

 equalities are of different kinds. In the democracy, it is 

 equality of rule: under a despotism, it is equality of ser- 

 vitude and submission. In the democracy, it is equality 

 of rights and privileges: in the despotism, it is equality of 

 weakness and degradation. In a democracy, the people 

 are identified with the government: in a despotism, the 



government 



