lygt.. ' 0^ THE BtlllTt OF LAW-SUITS. 19 



then After mankind have emerged from this wild 

 ftate, but before the eitablifliment of due fubordination 

 and regular government, if one man fhould make an 

 attack on the poffeffibns or perfon of another, where 

 could the latter find redrefs, but in a fimilar return on 

 the depredator? In the progrefs.of civilization, and 

 on mankind's emancipating themfelves from anarchy 

 and confufion, individuals were veiled with judicial 

 powers, and the determination of differences was fub- 

 mitted to their wifdom. Unirapaffioned neutrality in- 

 troduced tlie lex talionis, whereby the wrongs of the 

 individual were redrelfed according to the immutable 

 principles of natural equity, and alio determined the 

 putlilkment of him, who, by his dangerous machina- 

 tions or aftions had forfeited the proteclion of civil go- 

 vernment. Inllead of the dagger and the club, was in- 

 troduced the erudition, the perfuaiive reafoning, and 

 the pompous declamation of the lawyer j while~the fu- 

 ry of conflicting Jjarties now harmlefsly evaporates in a 

 Court of Juftice. Thus, laxv-fuits are beneficial to the 

 community. 



2. Self-intereft, under the cloak of patriotifm, has 

 divided the Britilh parliament in'o two illuftrious fac- 

 tions, the minifterial party and the oppofition. Politi- 

 cians have regarded this difunion, and conflidl of fenti- 

 ments and intereils, as the grand bulwark of our li- 

 berties. On the one hand, the encroachments of the 

 royal prerogative are reftrained, while, on the other, 

 democrat ical licentioufnefs is reprelTed. A parliament- 

 ary difpute attracts and engages the attention of the na- 

 tion ; but a wary minifter effefts his pufpofes with 

 more readinefs and facility, by ciandeftine, than by o- 

 pen and avowed attempts. By tlie former, the nation 

 is lulled into fecurity, and their jealoufy fleeps in peace; 

 but by the latter, their minds are agitated, their paf- 

 fions inflamed, and their fears alarmed. During an ex- 

 emption from foreign wars or inteftine commotions, the 

 human mind is, in fome degree, enervated by tranquij- 



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