The Sun.
London, England, 1820-02-12 00:00:00

THE CITY MEMBERS.

I have read with much satisfaction, the Reso-
lutions io feivour of Sir WILLtAm CUUTIS, and of
his re-election to the high trust which he so ho-
nourably and so usefully fulfilled. I regret, how-
ever, that they have gone no further ; and that
more extensive measures have not been taken for
the rescue of the Metropolis.

On these topics I shall shnrtly enlarge : being
entirely persuaded, that London ought to be re-
presented in the ImperiAl Legislature by her most
OPULENT, EXPERIENCED, and INTELLIGENT MER-
CHANTS. • The LORD MAYOR and Sir WILLIAM
CURTIS are peculiarly ; and to Mr.
SON HO sort of objection can be made. Surely
one other can be found Ito maintain the honour
of our City ; and to restore her to her former cre-
dit. I pnt Mr. THORPE, as every body else does,
wholly out of the question;—but while there is
no sort of danger from him, we may certainly find
in London more respectable Citizei,s than a Mea-
surer of Mull Muslins, and a Pounder of Brewer's
Drugs.

TENA X.

FOIL THE SUN.

THE ORIGIN AND IMPROVEMENT OF GOVERNMENT.

(No. II.)

MR. EntTott---The revolution in States, and
changes of Govt.; nments, were the effects of na-
tural causes within, but on the increase of men,
various external causes produced Republics and
absolute Monarchy. In the Republican form
there are inherent defects. It is of an elastic na-
ture, and, while compressed, its resistance is great,
as the result of virtue. If small, it wants the
powers of defence, and it large, it wants inherent
tranquillity. It may exist in miniature, as among
Arcadian shepherds, but the subjects are below
their size, and ever in danger of foreign inva-
sion. ' They are quiet.and careless. A large Re-
public, like Carthage, in its decline is a mere
hydra, or a monster whose tail is its head, and is a
victim to itself. A large aristocracy is tull of jea-
lousy, and has at times a sullen tranquillity, but
is liable w be destroyed by some overwhelming
spirit, or shaken into a •femocracy, which ends iu
tyranny. Uucompounded Republics, if large
enotiOt io defend themselves, have a tendency
progression, and make them foes to the rest of
the world. To preserve their own peace they
corrupt the minds and mariners of the subjects.
Holland is sonic exception, which is rather a
great trading company, governed by Directors,
and headed by a Chairman.

t is equally absurd now to suppose a Republic
void of merit, as it was during the 'league of
Charles the Second with the King of France, to
destroy Holland with religion, and liberty in Eng-
land ; yet to call - a man a Republican, was
thought a compliment, meaning a person who
consulted the welfare of all ranks in the Nation,
who detested the claim of a pretender to the
Throne, who was a lover of the Revolution, and
the succession in the House of Hanover. But
things are changed, and whosoever doubts the
prOpriety of, or opposes public measures, is a Re-
publican leveller ; forgetting or not knowing that
the western hemisphere owes the art of commerce,
navigation, and mechanics to the Republics of
Pbeilicia; the alt of war to Sparta ; the -art of
elegance to Athens ; and time art of victory to the
Romans ; though they each contained some root-
ed evil, and were imperfect. The Swiss or Hel-
vetic cantons, as a compoundeld Republic, is the
most perfect of all, and though they are in general
Papists, it evinces that their absurd religion may
co-operate, and mix with liberty as in Scotland,
where the Presbyterean mode of worship does
with a limited Monarchy. Few others have end-
ed so happily. Most of them became subjects to
an absolute Monarch. A tyrant of a vital State
may know something of his people, and whom to
trust ; but a tyrant of a large one, only knows a
minor part of those he governs through fear, by
men whom he bates.

Au absolute Monarchy is mitigated despotism,
of which a slavish submission to the Monarch is
the soul. Charles the Ninth of France, haying
set an example of assassination, his two imme-
diate successors were murdered, and all the vir-
tues of Henry the Fourth were required to restore
peace to the nation, which for fifty years atter.
was continually in arms. Let Princes who wish
to be absolute, or to govern by a Constitution
like the lit itish, pause and .rcfleo, that within (lie
last sixty-five years, an Emperor and three Kings
were wounded by assassins. _ _

Some there are who contend that the British
Constitution is not to their liking, because is is
too free, and because they do not receive still-
dent respect as gentlemen from the sturdy pea-
sant, or jocular mechanic. It is incumbeot on
these haughty beings to prove that they deserve
respect, by having shown any to law or rergion,
wisdom or common sense. Until when, let:hem
continue as ignorant of the British Covet iment,
as they ore of their duty to God and man.
It hits been said, that no Country but BHan
!tas a Consiitution, expressly combining law-, di-
recting who shaii govern, and how; and prier
the sancti,,n of a settled mode of redress apinst
those iviio act contrary to their spi-rit. Tl)evord
Conscitwioti is of amide meaning, and sh,.l be
explained in the next Number.

CIO.