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different bodies, a body of repreſentatives, a council, and a governor, becauſe there is in England a houſe of commons, a houſe of lords, and a king. They endeavour to balance theſe different powers, as if this equilibrium, which in England may be a neceſſary check to the enormous influence of royalty, could be of any uſe in republicks founded upon the equality of a;l the citizens, and as if eſtablishing different orders of men was not a ſource of diviſions and diſputes."
There has been, from the beginning of the revolution in America, a party in every ſtate, who have entertained ſentiments ſimilar to theſe of Mr. Turgot. Two or three of them have eſtabliſhed governments upon his principle: and, by advices from Boſton, certain committees of counties have been held, and other conventions propoſed in the Maſſachuſetts, with the expreſs purpoſe of depoſing the governor and ſenate, as uſeleſs and expenſive branches of the conſtitution; and as it is probable that the publication of Mr. Turgot's opinion has contributed to excite ſuch diſcontents among the people, it becomes neceſſary to examine it, and, if it can be ſhown to be an error, whatever veneration the Americans very juſtly entertain for his memory, it is to be hoped they will not be miſled by his authority.
LETTER