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CONSTITUTIONS OF THE GRECIAN STATES.Illtioning how important was the difference in fortune ;asthe proportionof the public burden to be borne by eachone was decided according to his wealth ;and the kind ofservice to be required in war, whether in the cavalry or theinfantry, and whether in heavy >?^Iight armour, was regulated by the same criterion as will ever be the case in coun;tries, where there is no other armed force than the militiaformed of the citizens.On these divisions of the citizens, the organizationoftheir assemblies (eV/cXT/^)was founded. These assemblies,which were a natural result of city governments, were, according to the views of the Greeks, so essential an institution, that they probably existed in every Grecian city,though not always under the same regulations. Yet themanner in which they were held in every city except Athensand Sparta,is almost wholly unknown to us. The nature ofthe case required, that the manner in which they were to beheld, should every where be established by rule. It was thecustom to give to but one magistrate the right of convokingand opening them. 1But we do not know in what mannerthe votes were taken in the several cities, whether merely bypolls, or by the wards and other divisions of the people.And in this,too, there was a great difference, whether allcitizens had the right of voting, or whether a certain census2was first requisite. In most of the cities, regular assemblieson fixed days, and extraordinary meetings also, appear tohave been held. 3 To attend was regarded as the duty ofevery citizen and as the better; part were apt to remainaway, especially in stormy times, absence was often made apunishable offence. 4 Itmay easily be supposed,that thedecisions were expressedin an established form, writtendown and preserved, and sometimes engraved on tables.But although the forms were fixed, the subjects which mightcoine before the assembly were by no means soclearly defined. The principle which was acted upon was, that sub-1In the heroic age, it was the privilege of the kings to convoke theassembly. See above, in the fourth chapter.2That a great variety prevailedin this respect,is clear from Aristot Polit,iv. 13.This was the case in Athens and Sparta.* This is the case, says Aristotle, Polit. iv. 13, in the oligarchic, or aristocratical cities jwhile on the contrary, in the democratic, the poorpaid for appearing in the assemblies.were well