public. Will any man pretend that the name of Androſs, and that of Winthrop, are heard with the ſame ſenſations in any village of New England? Is not gratitude the ſentiment that attends the latter, and diſguſt the feeling excited by the former? In the Maſſachuſett's then, there are perſons deſcended from ſome of their ancient governors, counſellors, judges, whoſe fathers, grandfathers, and great grandfathers, are remembered with eſteem by many living, and who are mentioned in hiſtory with applauſe, as benefactors to the country, while there are others who have no ſuch advantage. May we go a ſtep farther—Know thyſelf, is as uſeful a precept to nations as to men. Go into every village in New England, and you will find that the office of juſtice of the peace, and even the place of repreſentative, which has ever depended only on the freeeſt election of the people, have generally deſcended from generation to generation, in three or four families at moſt. The preſent ſubject is one of thoſe which all men reſpect, and all men deride. It may be ſaid of this part of our nature, as Pope ſaid of the whole:
Of human nature, wit her worſt may write,
We all revere it, in our own deſpight.
If, as Harrington ſays, the ten commandments, were voted by the people of Iſrael, and have been enacted as laws by all other nations; and if we ſhould preſume to ſay, that nations had a civil right to repeal them, no nation would think proper to repeal the fifth, which enjoins honour to parents: if there is a difference between right and wrong; if any thing can be ſacred; if
