174 ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. Boot IL 



Of the heroic Kings in Greece — Thefe not Ditmons, like the Jirjl 

 Egyptian Kings, but mere men that came from Cr^te or Egypt. — 

 Of the heroic form of Government ^— -of the qualifications neceffary 

 for the governor offuch a flate. — The fame form of Government 

 among the Indians of North America. — Obfervations upon the ne- 

 ceffity of eloquence for carrying on a free Government. — The antient 

 heroic Kings excelled in that art. — The account of thofe Kings giv- 

 en by Homer^ an important part in the hiflory of man. — They ivere 

 the noblefl race of men that ever exifled. — No exaggeration by Ho- 

 mer in their charaBers and manners; — all thofe heroes of noble 

 bhth. — The value of horfes depends upon their birth. — No diflinc- 

 tion betivixt men and horfes in that refpe6l. — In later times, the dif- 

 tinclion of birth obferved, particularly among the Athenians and 

 the Romatis. — The bad confequences of the negleB of that diflinc- 

 tion^ particularly among the Romans. — The farm diflinHion of birth 

 obferved in modern times, particularly in the Knights of Malta.—- 

 No diflin^ion of races of men noiv, as there ivas in the heroic times. 

 — Of the degeneracy of the befl races of men by impure mixtures, and 

 by an improper education and manner of life\ — Example of one hc" 

 roic race being preferved by living in a proper ivay. — The Govern- 

 ment in Rome under the Kings, thefa?ne -with the heroical Govern- 

 ment.— Better under one King than txuo Confuls, — Of the dtfe6l of 

 the heroic Governments in giving fo much poiver to the people. — 

 The confequence of that in Athens and in Rome. — Another objeBion 

 to this heroical Government is, that it ivas not fitted for the im- 

 provement of arts and fciences, — Theft defects remedied in the Go- 

 'vernment of Egypt. 



iN the preceding chapter I have fpoken at great length of the Re- 

 ligion of the Fgyptians. I am now to fpeak of their Govern- 

 ment ; and 1 hope to be able to {how, that they were not only a 

 mod religious people, but the bed governed, that we have ever heard 



of. 



