when Perfons of this Character fhould find that they cou'd make no Profit by getting themselves return'd into Parliament, it is probable they would defift from attempting it, and apply themfelves to cheat their Country fome other Way, which would bring them in a quicker Profit, and fo, by the Grace of God, fome of them might come to be hang'd.

I fhall conclude with the Obfervations of a State Writer in the Reign of King William upon this Subject.

If our Conftitution be out of Order it may "ftill be cur'd, for the Body Politick differs in this "Refpect from the human Body; Life fhorten'd "or impair'd by Irregularities is not to be extended "by Art beyond a certain Period; but it is quite "otherwife with the Body Politick, which by "Wifdom, Honefty, and good Conduct, is to be "made long-liv'd if not immortal. - Its Diftempers are to be cured, nay, its very Youth to be " renew'd; and a mix'd Government grows ftrong, young, and healthy again, whenever it returns to "the Principles upon which it was first founded.

SATURDAY, June 20, 1730.

What is Title?

The Hire which Greatness gives to Slaves and Syco-
ROWE.

phants.

I

N the Hiftories of the ancient Commonwealths of Greece and Rome where we read of a Succeffion of Heroes for many Ages, there is no Mention made of Titles, Ribbons, or Coats of Arms. -Thefe Things are Inventions of a much later Date ; · when Greatnefs of Mind and publick Spirit began to decay, and the GREAT loft that Reverence which the People used to pay them, it was neceffary to ftamp a counterfeit Merit upon Men in high Stations, in order to fupply the Want of true Merit.

Lycurgus, Pericles, Camillus and Fabius wore no Titles, and bore no Coats of Arms; it seems they were content with wearing Vertue, Honour, and Conqueft; but Heroes of later Date have found out an easier Way of being diftinguifh'd from the Crowd; fome Men who never gain'd Provinces or conquer'd Kingdoms, in the Service of their Country, have given ten thoufand Pounds for a Title; a Man with a cowardly Heart and a weak Head may hire a poor Fellow to invent him a Coat of Arms; you may fee DRAGONS and TYGERS, and other fierce Animals painted upon a Chariot,

which are ftiled the Supporters of a very tame Animal within ;- With thefe Implements, and about two Yards of Ribbon, you fhall fee a Creature ftrut with more Sufficiency in its Looks than Paulus Emilius fhew'd when he carried a Captive King in Chains through the Streets of Rome.

As I have travell'd through moft Countries in Europe, in one I have met with the Order of the Golden Fleece, in another with that of the Elephant or the Eagle, or the Goofe, and when I have feen a Perfon make a Show with the Ribbons of of any thefe Orders, I have been apt to ask, what Conqueft did he bring Home? was the Scene of Action by Land or by Sea where thefe Trophies were gain'd? But I have generally receiv'd for Anfwer, Signior no ma e Nobile, as much as to fay, great and heroick Actions are none of his Bufinefs, for he is made noble.

But yet these Things have an Effect upon the weak and the ignorant Part of our Species, and I have feen a Crowd of the great Vulgar ftare with a ftupid Face of Wonder at a Creature of their own Pitch of Understanding, fo adorn'd, while not one of them has carry'd their Confiderations farther than the Colour of the String,

I wou'd not have it understood that I think all Men alike, no, I remember Plutarch has fome where faid that he could not difcern fo great a Difference betwixt Beaft and Beaft as betwixt Man and Man; and Montaigne has carried it much further, and is of Opinion that there is a greater Difference betwixt Man and Man than betwixt fome Men and fome Beafts.

And fince we have named this witty Frenchman, we shall borrow fome Obfervations of his upon the

Subject we are now treating of.

.

There are as many and as innumerable Degrees of Wits as Cubits betwixt this and Heaven;

D 3

But

But as touching the Eftimate of Men, it is ftrange that (our own Species excepted) no other Creature is esteemed beyond its proper Qualities.

-

We commend and value a Horse for his Strength and Sureness of Foot, not for his rich or gay Comparisons, a Greyound for the Swiftnefs of his Heels, not for his fine gilt Collar, a Hawk for her Flight, not for her Geffes and Bells? Why, in like Manner, do we not value a Man for what is properly his own? He has a great Train, a large Palace, a high Title, and perhaps a great many thousand Pounds a Year, but all these are about him but not in him. You will not buy a Pig in a Poke; if you have a Defign of purchafing a Horfe, you will fee him ftript of his Houfing Cloaths, that you may view him naked and open to the Eye; or, if he be cloathed, as they anciently were wont to prefent them to Princes to fell; it is only on lefs important Parts, that you may not fo much confider the Beauty of his Colour or the Breadth of his Crupper, as principally to examine his Limbs, Eyes and Feet, which are the Members of greatest Ufe.

Why, in giving your Eftimate of a Man, do you prize him wrap'd and muffi'd up in Cloathes ? for he then discovers to you fuch Parts as are not in the leaft his own, and conceal thofe by which one may rightly judge of his Value. It is the Price and Goodness of the Blade that you enquire into, and not those of the Scabbard; you would not peradventure bid one Farthing for him, if you faw him ftript, and knew him thoroughly; you are to judge him by himself, and not by what he carries about

him.

One of the Ancients pleafantly faid, do you know why you efteem this Man tall? it is because you reckon him with the Height of his Chepines, whereas the Pedestal is no Part of the Statue;

mea

fure

fure him without his Stilts; let him lay afide his Revenues; let him prefent himself in his Shirt: then examine if his Body be found and fprightly, active and well-difpos'd to perform its Functions.

But you must not ftop here, you must go farther; -what kind of Soul has he? Is the beautiful, of great Capacity, and well provided to exercife all noble Faculties? - - Is the rich of what is her own, or of what she has borrow'd?. - Has Fortune no Hand in her Exaltation?- Can fhe without winking, ftand the Lightning of Swords? Is the indifferent whether her Life expires through the Mouth or through the Heart? - Is the fettled, even and content ? all this is to be examin'd, and by this and not by Titles you are to judge the Difference betwixt Man and Man.

-Sapiens, fibique imperiofus,

(terrent,

Quem neque Pauperies, neq; Mors, neq; Vincula
Refponfare Cupidinibus, contemnere Honores,
Fortis, & in feipfo totus teres atque rotundus,
Externi ne quid valeat per læve morari,
In quem manca ruit femper Fortuna.

Wife, and commanding his own Appetites; whom neither Poverty, Death, nor Chains can fright; refolute · to refift bis Paffions and to defpife vain Honours; fo fortified within himself, that no external Thing can stop his Course, and Fortune has no Power over him.

Such a Man is rais'd many hundred Fathoms above Titles and Scraps of Ribbon, for he is an abfo lute Monarch to himself.

Compare with fuch an one the common Rabble of Mankind, by which I would not be understood to mean the Indigent, the Low, the Unfortunate, or the Neceffitous, but the great, the noble, and the

wealthy