were of more innate virtue than other nations, and have concluded that a republican government was only fit for such a people.

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But it appears that the prudence of the Romans, in reserving to themselves the sovereign power over their persons and property, and the election of the public officers, were the causes which kept the senators honest, produced so many instances of disinterested patriotism, and brought into the public offices an uninterrupted succession of men of greater judgment and worth, than have appeared in the public offices of that, or of any other country, since that constitution was destroyed.

BESIDES these invaluable good effects upon the senators and candidates for public offices, this mode of election had an equally good effect upon the whole society.

FOR as all men wish to be of consequence, the surest way of obtaining that end in such a

society as that of ancient Rome, was to acquire a character for affability, integrity, and benevolence; to live in a plain hospitable way, so as to be in ability to assist the poor, or any neighbour in an amergency, and to pay every debt pointedly by these means acquiring influence with the poor and with neighbours; which influence would command respect from the highest ranks to those which were lower. And as the manners of the higher ranks are imitated by the lower, all these causes would concur in making benevolence, honesty, and an open affable behaviour, with plain hospitable manners, greatly to predominate in such a society. All these happy effects flow from the mode of popular elections, besides that of filling the public offices with men of the best morals and greatest abilities. And this effect would of itself form a most powerful cause of preserving order, of checking vice, and of encouraging virtue; as magistrates of integrity and abilities. are of much greater consequence for promoting these ends than the best laws; as they not only

distribute justice impartially, and set a good example to the people, but they are obeyed more from respect to their character, than from fear of their power. Thus it appears, that the virtue of the Romans has been owing to the prudent regulations of their constitution, and the rewards it held out to those who excelled.

AND their passion for war will be found to have been owing to the advantages which their constitution gave them over other nations in that art, and to the pecuniary advantages which the conquerors derived from the laws of war in those ages. It was the universal practice in those times, for the conquerors to take possession of the persons and property of the conquered nation, to sell what part of the people they pleased for slaves, and to sell or let what part of the lands they thought proper.And it was the custom of the Romans, to appropriate a part of the spoil to pay the expenses of the war, and to help to fill the public

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treasury. A part was given to the army, and a part of the land divided among the poor; but they generally left the far greatest part of the conquered people in possession of their property, and under their own magistrates and laws, upon a treaty, as allies of Rome. By the Roman method of electing officers, the strongest emulation was excited in the breast of every individual in their armies, as it was very common for privates to rise to high commands, and sometimes to the consulate. And as the consul was certainly to be changed at the end of the campaign, he would exert himself to obtain honour and a triumph, during his command.

THE next superior officers, not having him for a rival, would second him in all his schemes to the utmost of their power, to raise their own character and obtain the consulate.

THE lower officers and privates would exert themselves to acquire a character for conduct

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and bravery, to obtain advancement. An army with such incitements to exertion, and commanded by a general of abilities, must be almost irresistible.

WHEN it is also considered, that the Roman armies were employed by a senate, the principal persons in which were old generals of the first-rate talents, who would form prudent schemes, and proportion the force to the expected opposition; and that the commanders were under no control in the detail of operations, to prevent them from stationing or marching their troops, as they judged best, or from embracing any favourable opportunity for action: keeping these circumstances in view, we cannot wonder that the Roman armies were generally successful, and always ultimately victorious. These causes made war both honourable and profitable to the nation, as well as to the army, and tempted the Romans to continue that inhuman trade. Being constantly en