CIVILIZATION. 
93 
acquired a certain position with their rulers, which enabled 
them not only to maintain their rights, but to obtain various 
immunities, dignities, and privileges, for as they became 
wealthy and able to furnish their prince efficient aid in 
times of war, it was his interest to attach them to him by 
such means. 
But with all their powers, though they could even close 
their cities against their rulers, as the Lord Mayor of London, 
for formas sake, still locks the gate of the city when the 
monarch visits it to assert his rights, then opens it, and 
presents the keys to her, yet, with all their powers and 
immunities, they were obliged to be humble and lowly to 
their rulers, hence came the word civil and civility , for which 
the citizen became conspicuous, as well as for his loyalty, a 
noble instance of which occurred when Walworth, the Lord 
Mayor of London, himself knocked down the daring rebel 
who insulted his King in his presence. 
Cities early became the source of every useful art and 
invention. The city was the civilizer of the country, and 
not the court, for though from it sprung the courtier , and 
every thing that was courtly and courteous , and from them 
the lady learnt the graceful courtsey ; still it did not give 
rise to such temporal and moral benefits as the city. The 
immorality of courts is but too faithfully preserved in the 
word courtezan. In searching for the true meaning of 
civilization, we find the Romans first derived theirs from 
the Greeks, and if we turn to them and take their word 
for city, ttoXiq, we have everything relating to law, order, 
and government implied, as police , polity , policy , and poli- 
tics ; as well as politeness and urbanity , also derived from 
city, urbsj which marks the well-ordered mind careful of 
giving offence, hence the words 'polite , politic , and polish of 
manners thus acquired. The Greek cities were independent 
states, their citizens were men of rank and education, bound 
together by mutual interests ; they were celebrated for 
their cultivation of the arts and sciences, and thus became 
polished. Having cities similarly situated in their neigh- 
bourhood, each possessing its peculiar interests, leading to 
