ſcribing it. "It ſeems to me, that, in order to maintain the moral ſyſtem of the univerſe at a certain point, far below that of ideal perfection (for we are made capable of conceiving what we are not capable of attaining), it has pleaſed the Author of Nature to mingle, from time to time, among the ſocieties of men, a few, and but a few, of thoſe on whom he has been graciouſly pleaſed to confer a larger proportion of the etherial ſpirit, than, in the ordinary courſe of his providence, he beſtows on the ſons of men. Theſe are they who engroſs almoſt the whole reaſon of the ſpecies. Born to direct, to guide, and to preſerve, if they retire from the world their ſplendour accompanies them, and enlightens even the darkneſs of their retreat. If they take a part in public life, the effect is never indifferent: they either appear the inſtruments of divine vengeance, and their courſe through the world is marked by deſolation and oppreſſion, by poverty and ſervitude; or they are the guardian angels of the country they inhabit, ſtudious to avert the moſt diſtant evil, and to procure peace, plenty, and the greateſt of human bleſſings—liberty."
If there is then, in ſociety, ſuch a natural ariſtocracy as theſe great writers pretend, and as all hiſtory and experience demonſtrate, formed partly by genius, partly by birth, and partly by riches, how ſhall the legſilator avail himſelf of their influence for the equal benefit of the public? and how, on the other hand, ſhall he prevent them from diſturbing the public happineſs? I anſwer, by arranging them all, or at leaſt the moſt conſpicuous of them, together in one aſſembly, by the name of a ſenate: by ſeparating them from all pretenſions to
