Slaves to their fuperiors, but tyrants to their inferiors ;
ihefc needy adventurers become the tools of prevailing
power* Juftices of the peace are felefled from this
clafs, and thefe, by this degree of elevation, (certainly
to them the Ration is an exalted one) think themfelves
raifed to a level of equality with the moft refpeflablc
gentlemen in the country. But their ignorance is*fo
prepoftcrous, and their behaviour fo affuming, that
men of education, talents and fortune, are induced to
withhold themfelves from a fituation they wouldother-
wife grace, as it might oblige them to confer with fel-
lows with whom they would not by any means hold
communion or keep company. Thus are the very
men who ought to be the magiftrates of the country,
and who would chearfully accept the office, were they
to affociate wuth proper companions in duty, deterred
from^ holding commiffions of the peace; while the
juflicc and police of the community is left to Ignorant,
^ prefuming



Digitized by



Googk



j|S INSUKKECTION OT THE

prefuming and intemperate upftarts> devoid of all qua*^
lification and endowment, except that a1one> if i^ may
be termed fuch, of unconditional fubmiifion and obe-
dience to the controuling nod of their boafted patrons*
If they faithfully adhere to this, they may go all
lengths to laife their confequence, and enhance their
eftimation with the multitude. Thefe creatures have
therefore the effrontery to pufh thcmfelves forward on
every occafion ; and after a feries of habitual afts of
mrpitude, whenever an opportunity offers itfcif, they
become the fcourges and the firebrands of the country.
