Dr. Perci'vaPs Notes and illujirations, 621 



Fanadcifm, like that which fubfifted amongft the anabaptifts 

 of Munfter, about two centuries ago, may induce the civil ma- 

 giftrate to order every man to bring forth his gold, filver, and 

 precious efFeds, to be depofited in a public treafury, and to be 

 difpenfed, for common ufe. But this would be an aft of power, 

 not of jullice or legitimate authority. 



IV. Grants of money, in almoll every country, are made 

 on exprefs conditions, and as voluntary facrifices of private rights 

 to public good. 



* Whenever the public good requires the involuntary facrifice 

 of the good of an individual, great attention is paid, in all juft and 

 moderate governments, to do as little violence as pofuble ; and to 

 make full recompenfe for the injury fuftained. This feems to be 

 an unequivocal acknowledgment of the exiftence of private pro- 

 perty, in the ftrifteft fenfe of the word. 



V. As every man has a natural right to life, he mull have the 

 fame natural right to the means of fupporting life. On this 

 principle, the Athenians feem to have confidered that fhare of a 

 man's property, which is neceflary to his fubfiftence, as abfolutely 

 exempt from taxation. Thus a rent of five hundred meafures of 

 com was affelTed in the yearly contribution of a talent. A rent 

 of three hundred paid half a talent. A rent of two hundred paid 

 one fixth of a talent ; and land of a lower produce paid no fubfi- 

 dies at all. In the early days of Rome, feven acres were the ut- 

 moft extent of landed property, which a Roman citizen was 

 allowed to hold. This portion was, probably, not more than 

 adequate to the fupply of a family. 



VI. There is a fpecies of acknowledged property appertaining 

 to ftates, over which they exercife an exclufive power of difpofal, 

 which bears a dofe analogy to private poffeflions. It confifts in 

 crown-lands, public buildings, highways, fortifications, &c. 

 Can public levies, to a confiderable extent be, like this, regarded 

 as the abfolute right of the civil magiftrate ? 



VII. But it may be urged, that the greateft part of property, 

 whether perfonal or real, is enjoyed by inheritance under the 



• J>trnmum eminens : Tranfcendental property, 



authority 



