tered in it, by the people. Theſe have moſt acquaintance, eſteem, and friendſhip, with each other, and mutually aid each other's ſchemes of intereſt, convenience, and ambition. Fortune, it is true, has more influence than birth; a rich man of an ordinary family, and common decorum of conduct, may have greater weight than any family merit commonly confers without it, 3. It will be readily admitted, there are great inequalities of merit, or talents, virtues, ſervices, and, what is of more moment, very often of reputation. Some, in a long courſe of ſervice in an army, have devoted their time, health, and fortunes, ſignalized their courage and addreſs, expoſed themſelves to hardſhips and dangers, loſt their limbs, and ſhed their blood, for the people. Others have diſplayed their wiſdom, learning, and eloquence in council, and in various other ways acquired the confidence and affection of their fellow citizens, to ſuch a degree, that the public have ſettled into a kind of habit of following their example and taking their advice. 4. There are a few, in whom all theſe advantages of birth, fortune, and fame are united.
Theſe ſources of inequality, which are common to every people, and can never be altered by any, becauſe they are founded in the conſtitution of nature; this natural ariſtocracy among mankind, has been dilated on, becauſe it is a fact eſſential to be conſidered in the inſtitution of a government. It is a body of men which contains the greateſt collection of virtues and abilities in a free government; is the brighteſt ornament and glory of the nation; and may always be made the greateſt bleſſing of ſociety, if it be judiciouſly managed in the conſtitution. But if it is not, it is always the moſt dangerous; nay, it may be
