nd their impertinence than Spartan insolence。 Even in courage it may be questioned whether they were inferior to the Lacedaemonians。 The great Athenian historian has reported a remarkable observation of the great Athenian minister。 Pericles maintained that his countrymen； without submitting to the hardships of a Spartan education； rivalled all the achievements of Spartan valour； and that therefore the pleasures and amusements which they enjoyed were to be considered as so much clear gain。 The infantry of Athens was certainly not equal to that of Lacedaemon； but this seems to have been caused merely by want of practice： the attention of the Athenians was diverted from the discipline of the phalanx to that of the trireme。 The Lacedaemonians； in spite of all their boasted valour； were； from the same cause； timid and disorderly in naval action。
But we are told that crimes of great enormity were perpetrated by the Athenian government； and the democracies under its protection。 It is true that Athens too often acted up to the full extent of the laws of war in an age when those laws had not been mitigated by causes which have operated in later times。 This accusation is； in fact； common to Athens； to Lacedaemon； to all the states of Greece； and to all states similarly situated。 Where communities are very large； the heavier evils of war are felt but by few。 The ploughboy sings； the spinning…wheel turns round； the wedding…day is fixed； whether the last battle were lost or won。 In little states it cannot be thus； every man feels in his own property and person the effect of a war。 Every man is a soldier； and a soldier fighting for his nearest interests。 His own trees have been cut downhis own corn has been burnthis own house has been pillagedhis own relations have been killed。 How can he entertain towards the enemies of his country the same feelings with one who has suffered nothing from them； except perhaps the addition of a small sum to the taxes which he pays？ Men in such circumstances cannot be generous。 They have too much at stake。 It is when they are； if I may so express myself； playing for love； it is when war is a mere game at chess； it is when they are contending for a remote colony； a frontier town； the honours of a flag； a salute； or a title； that they can make fine speeches； and do good offices to their enemies。 The Black Prince waited behind the chair of his captive； Villars interchanged repartees with Eugene； George II。 sent congratulations to Louis XV。； during a war； upon occasion of his escape from the attempt of Damien： and these things are fine and generous； and very gratifying to the author of the Broad Stone of Honour； and all the other wise men who think； like him； that God made the world only for the use of gentlemen。 But they spring in general from utter heartlessness。 No war ought ever to be undertaken but under circumstances which render all interchange of courtesy between the combatants impossible。 It is a bad thing that men should hate each other； but it is far worse that they should contract the habit of cutting one another's throats without hatred。 War is never lenient； but where it is wanton； when men are compelled to fight in selfdefence； they must hate and avenge： this may be bad； but it is human nature； it is the clay as it came from the hand of the potter。
It is true that among the dependencies of Athens seditions assumed a character more ferocious than even in France； during the reign of terrorthe accursed Saturnalia of an accursed bondage。 It is true that in Athens itself； where such convulsions were scarcely known； the condition of the higher orders was disagreeable； that they were compelled to contribute large sums for the service or the amusement of the public； and that they were sometimes harassed by vexatious informers。 Whenever such cases occur； Mr Mitford's scepticism vanishes。 The 〃if；〃 the 〃but；〃 the 〃it is said；〃 the 〃if we may believe；〃 with which he qualifies every charge against a tyrant or an aristocracy； are at once abandoned。 The blacker the story； the firmer is his belief； and he never fails to inveigh with hearty bitterness against democracy as the source of every species of crime。
The Athenians； I believe； possessed more liberty than was good for them。 Yet I will venture to assert that； while the splendour； the intelligence； and the energy of that great people were peculiar to themselves； the crimes with which they are charged arose from causes which were common to them with every other state which then existed。 The violence of faction in that age sprung from a cause which has always been fertile in every political and moral evil； domestic slavery。
The effect of slavery is completely to dissolve the connection which naturally exists between the higher and lower classes of free citizens。 The rich spend their wealth in purchasing and maintaining slaves。 There is no demand for the labour of the poor； the fable of Menenius ceases to be applicable； the belly communicates no nutriment to the members； there is an atrophy in the body politic。 The two parties； therefore； proceed to extremities utterly unknown in countries where they have mutually need of each other。 In Rome the oligarchy was too powerful to be subverted by force； and neither the tribunes nor the popular assemblies； though constitutionally omnipotent； could maintain a successful contest against men who possessed the whole property of the state。 Hence the necessity for measures tending to unsettle the whole frame of society； and to take away every motive of industry； the abolition of debts； and the agrarian lawspropositions absurdly condemned by men who do not consider the circumstances from which they sprung。 They were the desperate remedies of a desperate disease。 In Greece the oligarchical interest was not in general so deeply rooted as at Rome。 The multitude； therefore； often redressed by force grievances which； at Rome； were commonly attacked under the forms of the constitution。 They drove out or massacred the rich； and divided their property。 If the superior union or military skill of the rich rendered them victorious； they took measures equally violent； disarmed all in whom they could not confide； often slaughtered great numbers； and occasionally expelled the whole commonalty from the city； and remained； with their slaves； the sole inhabitants。
From such calamities Athens and Lacedaemon alone were almost completely free。 At Athens the purses of the rich were laid under regular contribution for the support of the poor； and this； rightly considered； was as much a favour to the givers as to the receivers； since no other measure could possibly have saved their houses from pillage and their persons from violence。 It is singular that Mr Mitford should perpetually reprobate a policy which was the best that could be pursued in such a state of things； and which alone saved Athens from the frightful outrages which were perpetrated at Corcyra。
Lacedaemon； cursed with a system of slavery more odious than has ever existed in any other country； avoided this evil by almost totally annihilating private property。 Lycurgus began by an agrarian law。 He abolished all professions except that of arms； he made the whole of his community a standing army； every member of which had a common right to the services of a crowd of miserable bondmen； he secured the state from sedition at the expense of the Helots。 Of all the parts of his system this is the most creditable to his head； and the most disgraceful to his heart。
These considerations； and many others of equal importance； Mr Mitford has neglected； but he has yet a heavier charge to answer。 He has made not only illogical inferences； but false statements。 While he never states； without qualifications and objections； the charges which the earliest and best historians have brought against his favourite tyrants； Pisistratus； Hippias； and Gelon； he transcribes； without any hesitation； the grossest abuse of the least authoritative writers against every democracy and every demagogue。 Such an accusation should not be made without being supported； and I will therefore select one out of many passages which will fully substantiate the charge； and convict Mr Mitford of wilful misrepresentation； or of negligence scarcely less culpable。 Mr Mitford is speaking of one of the greatest men that ever lived； Demosthenes； and comparing him with his rival； Aeschines。 Let him speak for himself。
〃In earliest youth Demosthenes earned an opprobrious nickname by the effeminacy of his dress and manner。〃 Does Mr Mitford know that Demosthenes denied this charge； and explained the nickname in a perfectly different manner？ （See the speech of Aeschines against Timarchus。） And； if he knew it； should he not have stated it？ He proceeds thus： 〃On emerging from minority； by the Athenian law； at five…and…twenty； he earned another opprobrious nickname by a prosecution of his guardians； which was considered as a dishonourable attempt to extort money from them。〃 In the first place Demosthenes was not five…and…twenty years of age。 Mr Mitford might have learned； from so common a book as the Archaeologia of Archbishop Potter； that at twenty Athenian citizens were freed from the control of their guardians； and began to manage their own property。 The very speech of Demosthenes against his guardians proves most satisfactorily that he was under twenty。 In his speech against Midias； he says that when he undertook that prosecution he was quite a boy。 （Meirakullion on komide。） His youth might； therefore； excuse the step； even if it had been considered； as Mr Mitford says； a dishonourable attempt to extort money。 But who considered it as such？ Not the judges who condemned the guardians。 The Athenian courts of justice were not the purest in the world； but their decisions were at least as likely to be just as the abuse of a deadly enemy。 Mr Mitford refers for confirmation of his statement to Aeschines and Plutarch。 Aeschines by no means bears him out； and Plutarch directly contradicts him。 〃Not long after；〃 says Mr Mitford； 〃he took blows publicly in the theater〃 （I preserve the orthography； if it can be so called； of this historian） 〃from a petulant youth of rank； named Meidias。〃 He