PHI LOS 0 P H Y . - Classic Works of Apologetics Online

Btaitish COnJtitution~
mentation, is to divide the rrlass; that is, to erCLt
different orders in the community, with separate pre ..
judices and interests. And this may occasiond Iy be.
come the u~e of an hereditary nebility; invested with
a share of legi .. huion. Averse to tho~e prejudices
which actuate the minds of the vulgar; accu t(.;med
to condemn the clatnour of the pOFuiace; di~ddinillg
to receive 1a\vs and opinions from tlleir inferiors in
rank, they \l-ill oppose reso!uiions, \vhich are foundt:d
in the folly and violence of the lo\ver part of the COIn ..
munity. Was the "oiee of the people al ways dictated
by reflection; did every man, or even one man in
an hu.ndred think for himself, or actually consider the
measure he \\-as about to approve or censure; or eV(:Il
were the comlnon people tolerably stedfast in the
judgment which they formed, I shculd hold the interference
of a superior orded, not only superfluou~,
but wrong: for, when every thing is allowed to 4if.
l~rerlce of rank and e(]ucation, \vhich the actual state
of the~:e advantages deserves, that, after all, is most
likely to be right and expedient, which appears to
be so to the separate judgment and decision of a great
majority of the nation; at least, that, in general, i:i
right for them, which is agreeable to their fixed opini()flS
and desires. But \vhen \\'e ob~ervc \\,11at is urg.
ed as tIle public opini()n, to l)c, in trutll, the opinioll
only or perhaps the feigned professions of a few crafty
leaders; that the nun1bcrs \\Tho j()il1 ill the cry, ~erve
only to sweJI and multiply the sound, without any
accession of judgment, or eX'~'rcise of ulldl'r.,tanding ;
and tllat oftentimes tIle \visest coul1,els have beel!
thus Qverb()rne by tumult alld ul)roar,-we 111ay
conceive occasions to ari~e, 111 \vhic.: t1le t()tllmonwealth
may be saved by the reluctance of the nobility
to adopt the caprices, l)r to yi~ld to t 11e v Cll€lnenCe
of the common people.
In expecting this advantage
from an order of nobles, we do nfJt t)uppose tIle 110-­
bility to be more unprejudiced than others; we only
suppose that their prejudices will be different fro111,
and may occasionally counteract those of others.
If the persbnal privilegt:s of the peerage, which ale