and, as in republics, the people have not fo conftant and fo present a view of the causes of their misery, and as the magistrates seem to act only in conformity to the laws; hence liberty is generally faid to refide in republics, and to be banished from monarchies. In a word, as in democracies, the people seem to act almost as they please: this fort of government has been deemed the moft free, and the power of the people has been confounded with their liberty.

It is true, that in democracies the people feem to act as they please; but political liberty does not confift in an unlimited freedom. In governments, that is, in focieties directed by laws, liberty can confift only in the power of doing what we ought to will, and not in being constrained to do what we ought not to will. We must have continually in our minds the difference between independence and liberty.-Liberty is a right of doing whatever the laws permit; and, if a citizen could do what they forbid, he would be no longer poffeffed of liberty, because all his fellow-citizens would have the fame power.

Democratic and Ariftocratic ftates are not, in their own nature, free. Political liberty is to be found only in moderate governments; and even in these it is not always found. It is there only, when there is no abuse of power; but constant experience fhews us, that every man, invested with power, is apt to abuse it; and to carry his authority as far as it will go. Is it not strange, though true, to say that virtue itself has need of limits?

To prevent this abuse, it is neceffary, from the very nature of things, that power fhould be a check to power. A government may be fo conftituted, as that no man shall be compelled to do things to which the law does not oblige him; nor forced to abstain from things which the law permits.

Though all governments have the fame general end, which is that of preservation, yet each has another particular object. Increase of dominion was the object of Rome: war that of Sparta; religion, that of the Jewish laws; commerce, that of

Marseilles ;

Marseilles; public tranquility, that of the laws of China; navigation, that of the laws of Rhodes; natural liberty, that of the policy of the Savages; in general, the pleasures of the prince, that of defpotic ftates; that of monarchies, the prince's. and the kingdom's glory:-the independence of individuals is the end aimed at by the laws of Poland, and from thence refults the oppreffion of the whole.

Mr. EDITOR,

For the PHILANTHROPIST.

WHILE political diftinctions and fubtleties divide one half

of the human race, while the remainder (at least for the moft part) drawl out guilty lives in praying, deceiving, and fasting; Philanthropy ought to be revered, much revered whenever and however found.

The title of your book is aufpicious of much good, thofe who have the fatisfaction to peruse it find it even fo. Yet it ought not (in my opinion) to abound always with political excellence only. Morality like gold, is intrinfically valuable ; however, fociety on its prefent principles may dispense with the virtues: choofing to deify the vices of the age.

Individual men, whatever be their conduct, are faid by fome to have no relations, and to produce no effects by their actions, in common with the interests of the whole people. In the abftract it is fo: but when good or bad actions are confidered collectively, particular men neceffarily grow of weight in our contemplation. I would detect the vices of the few, for the fake of the many as I would ftop a thief for the fake of his profecutor. Eventually I have no other intereft inthe apprehending of fuch a man, but what is in common with and for the preservation of the whole community. Hence the crime of an apothecary, in not regularly attending to the necessary demands of a deceased fellow-man, as being a-kin with deliber

ate

ate affaffination, is paramount in confequence and primacy in itle, to the public profecution and public cenfure of a highwayman or thief. The latter, in most instances give the fignal of attack. The former ftudies to conceal his defign.

Thus impreffed, I cannot but conclude that you will oblige a difinterested Philanthropist, by the inferting of the following lines (occafioned by the wilful inhumanity of a certain city apothecary) in your valuable mifcellany.

I am &c.

A. M. L.

TO THE HUMANE.

While Fortune dazzles round our fov'reign's throne,

Why do I celebrate a name unknown.:

Only because the guilty ought to find

The utmost veng'ance of an upright mind.

Cleveland! that promis'd, but forgot to come,
Where death lower'd threat'ning o'er an aged dome,
Merits our cenfure: nay, the world should know,
How fimple manners shield an artful foe.

To moral men, in any sphere of life,
Who ftudy prudence and avoid low ftrife,
Truth, that fo facred, fo devout a name,

Procures true wealth, true honour, and true fame.
Such then, who violate her laws, offend

1

Against the folemn duties of a friend.
In this mean globe, mankind alike poffefs
A right to combat whofo right oppress:
And he who to a fellow-man is bound,
To lull a fever, or to cure a wound,
In not attending in the needful hour,
Becomes the tyrant of ufurptive pow'r:
Was there a tyranny that could excel
The wrath of heav'n and the chains of hell,

That

That man who fawns the fighing foul; and then,
Mingle promifcuous with other men,

Nor heeds the danger: but revolves in state,
Leaving his patient to the will of fate,
Is the fell being-he excels that scene.-
Yes! by his crimes, provokes a keener pain!
For facred ire, tho' aweful might e'en prove,
A future guide to god's immutive love:
While moral ills in moral mischief end,
(What fo deftructive as a faithless friend)!
Cleaveland the good, the learned and the wife,
Who lures our fenfes, and eludes our eyes,
On fame's proud lift a pompous place once held;
Whose clarion echoes e'er his foes prevail'd:
While blooming trophies charm'd the mazy round,
Admiring friends re-echo'd to the found:
Admiring friends the wanted tribute gave :-
Who fay, he tore his laurel from the grave!
Such was his fame! another profpect now.
I rife to tear the laurel from his brow.
Our hearts wide differ: yet my mind can trace
All human nature thro' all human race.
How here, how there, unerring reason fhews,
Whence juft diftinction neceffarily flows:
Whence honeft fame in decent attire rolls,
(Nor wreck the happiness of gloomy fouls):

Hail! lone and penfive, wand'ring in the drear
Of moral evils, undisturb'd by fear,

I view the ruggid fummit with regret,
While my mind contemplates the good and great:
Not that I envy-no! that man must be
Little fufceptive of dread mifery,

Who can defire the fummit; while below,
A thousand joys from focial transports flow:
But man regrets the ills that man can cure,
And thinks it hard, that he must e'en endure,
Toil, pains, and grief, while comfort fhuns his door.

}

The fick man's groans can roufe the favage herd, And footh the rancour of the vult'rous bird; But man, more civil, hurries to be gone : He fighs!-and leaves the fuffering fage alone. Was fuch the cafe: fay, Cleaveland! was it fo? When you stood trembling for another's woe: When you exclaim'd" alas! I own I've been "Neglectful of my duty: yet I mean "Henceforth to prove, the sympathy I share, "With you, dear fuff ring object of my care! " "Thofe fighs, those throbs, those vulnerating groans, "That gnaw our hearts, and even waste our bones, "Fill thee with dread: but yet, I trust that time, "Some certain drugs, and change of air and clime, "Will foon fupprefs, foon diffipate the pain; "And, in promoting, nerve your health again." These were your words, ignoble Cleaveland thefe, The reeking accents of thy pageant ease;

Lefs would entitle you to fome belief

From one faft finking under weight of grief.
You have not come! ah, mienlefs, faithlefs man ;
Who breathes the measure of an humble fpan!
Is this thy glory! doft thou draw herefrom,
The pleafing transports of thy fpouse at home?
From this derive thy happiness, from this,
The hope of endless everlasting bliss? ---
No, furely not, you muft, you can't but know,
The good old man confiders you his foe.
From human race I judge your mind adverfe:
Unworthy hero of my modeft verse !
Could I refound thy infamy, I'd try
To fwell the four vaft corners of the sky,
But you fell Cleaveland! actuate inspire,
Hope of relief; and-leave it to expire,

'Mid