from being delivered up entirely to the ſpirit of avarice: it may be the cauſe, why honour is preferred by ſome to money: it may prevent the nobility from becoming too rich, and acquiring too large a proportion of the landed property. In America, it would not only be miſchievous, but would expoſe the higheſt pretenſions of the kind to univerſal ridicule and contempt. Thoſe other hauteurs, of keeping the commons at a diſtance, and diſdaining to converſe with any but a few of a certain race, may in Europe be a favour to the people, by relieving them from a multitude of aſſiduous attentions and humiliating compliances, which would be troubleſome; it may prevent the nobles from caballing with the people, and gaining too much influence with them in elections and otherwiſe. In America, it would juſtly excite univerſal indignation; the vaineſt of all muſt be of the people, or be nothing. While every office is equally open to every competitor, and the people muſt decide upon every pretenſion to a place in the legiſlature, that of governor and ſenator, as well as repreſentative, no ſuch airs will ever be endured. It muſt be acknowledged ſtill, that ſome men muſt take more pains to deſerve and acquire an office than others, and muſt behave better in it, or they will not hold it.
We cannot preſume that a man is good or bad, merely becauſe his father was one or the other; and ſhould always inform ourſelves firſt, whether the virtues and talents are inherited, before we yield our confidence. Wiſe men beget fools, and honeſt men knaves; but theſe inſtances, although they may be frequent, are not general. If there is often a likeneſs in feature and figure, there is generally more in mind and heart, becauſe education contributes to the formation of theſe as
