to give Children a public Education, where no Education had taken Place;—These might all seem the natural and practicable Efforts of a Pagan Legislator.
Thus, the Formation of the Spartan Republic seems clearly accounted for. A Tribe of untaught Savages, were brought forward by Lycurgus one Degree towards Civilization and Humanity, and There fixed by severe Institutions.
The Fate of Agis, their patriot King, confirms this Solution. He, with a Degree of public Virtue seldom seen in any Station, attempted to bring back the corrupt State to its first rigorous Institutions. But That which Lycurgus could establish among untaught Savages, Agis found impracticable, among a corrupted People. He was seized, imprisoned, and murdered by a Faction, in his Attempt to restore Freedom to a degenerate Republic.
2. If the Argument here alledged be just, concerning the first Institution of this
