the executive power; and by controuling, in the legiſlature, their ambition and avarice, by an aſſembly of repreſentatives on one ſide, and by the executive authority on the other. Thus you will have the benefit of their wiſdom, without fear of their paſſions. If among them there are ſome of Lord Bolingbroke's guardian angels, there will be ſome of his inſtruments of divine vengeance too: the latter will be here reſtrained by a three-fold tie; by the executive, power, by the repreſentative aſſembly, and by their peers in the ſenate. But if theſe were all admitted into a ſingle popular aſſembly, the worſt of them might in time obtain the aſcendancy of all the reſt. In ſuch a ſingle aſſembly, as has been obſerved before, almoſt the whole of this ariſtocracy will make its appearance; being returned members of it by the election of the people: theſe will be one claſs. There will be another ſet of members, of middling rank and circumſtances, who will juſtly value themſelves upon their independence, their integrity, and unbiaſſed affection to their country, and will pique themſelves upon being under no obligation. But there will be a third claſs, every one of whom will have his leader, among the members of the firſt claſs, whoſe character he will celebrate, and whoſe voice he will follow; and this party, after a courſe of time, will be the moſt numerous. The queſtion then will be, whether this ariſtocracy in the houſe will unite or divide? and it is too obvious, that deſtruction to freedom muſt be the conſequence equally of their union or of their diviſion. If they unite generally in all things, as much as they certainly will in reſpecting each others wealth, birth, and parts, and conduct themſelves with prudence, they will ſtrengthen themſelves by inſenſible degrees, by playing into
