Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-12-11

even error venerable, shall have given its
sanction to this practice, the mischief will
not easily be repaired. We can repair ii
now, if we will.
This practice ofgiving titles and cpl
thets, repeat, is creeping on among us,
and Incorporating itself in our language,
manners and habits. perceive that the
mayors of the opulenf and fiourisI,ing
cities OF New York and Philadelphia, are
always spoken of as their honors."
do not know that the mayor of the city of
Baltimore, distinguished as II is tor lis
patriotism and munihcence, is yet g his
honor bnt m time, no doubt, he will
be /" his honor" aud In a few years the
epihet may travel on even 10 our metro
polls. But when the mayor of Richmond
is elevated 10 that rank, the first mags-
traie OF larger cities will be distinguished
by titles of still greater splendor. The
mayors of New York and Philadelphia
may then be exceilencieS, or lord may
ors, or commences, or something higher
still, and perhaps hold their ei,iemeral
distinctions by the grace OF God. Who
knows!
We have titles but as yet no marks
and badges of distinction. The badge of
the society ofthe Cincinnati, thanks 10
the patriotism and sound sense of its first
president and members, has lost lis he
reditaiy quality, and is totally unknown
10 the people Of the United States. There
is now no mark OF diStnetion III our
country, except the siiken robes of the
Judges of the supreme court. WHY these
were assumed il would mol be very diff
cult 10 decide, but why when assumed.
they we're not accompanied by their ven
cradle companions, the flowing and full
bottomed Wigs. they wiz. the aforesaid
robes and iheatoresaid wigs) having been
Jolnt tenants, time whereof the memory
OF man runneih not TO the contrary, OF
the persons of judges, is question a.
bout which an opinion ought no, hastily
TO be formed. My present impression,
as The lawyers say, is that tine wigs nave
suffered great injustice aud unmerited
disgrace by this unprecedented exclusion
from bench 10 which robes have been
admitted. On the first point at least, it
is hoped that curia advisarc vult."
The manly pride of the Romans,
content with substantial power, had lift
TO the vanity of the east the forms aud
: ceremonies of ostentatious greatness
But when they lest even the semblance
" OF those virtues Which were derived
=" from their ancient freedom, the simpli-
city OF Roman manners was irsensiblv
corrupted by the stately atfectation of
the courts of Asia. The distinctions
OF personal merit and influence, so
conspicuous i'll a republic, so feeble
and obscure under monarchy, were
" abolished by the despotism of the en-
perors; who substituted i'm their room
. secure subordination of rank and
!" office, from the titled slaves who were
seated on the steps ofthe throne, TO
the meanest instruments Of arbitrary
power.'t A comment on this para
graph, every word of which merits seri-
Gus attention, could have no effect but
TO impair ITS beauty or its strength.
This Is but very imperfect sketch of
the subject before us. | hope some 9TH
er person will complete it. have done.
PHOCION.
The most distinguished Romans, even af
ter the republic was subyeried, addressed
each other by letter in the simplest TERMS
cicero writes to Atticus, Horace to Macanas,
tueScCuueu "a lire M to