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114: ANCIENT GREECE. [CHAP. JX .we may draw inferences respecting its nature in other statesfrom what it was at Athens, it consisted of a numerous committee of the citizens annually chosen ;itsmembers, takenafter a fixed rule from each of the corporations, were chosenby lot but; they could not become actual members withouta previousexamination. For in no case was it of ,so muchimportance as here, to effect the exclusion of all but honestmen ; who, being themselves interested in the preservationof the state and its constitution, might decide on the business presentedto them, with prudence and moderation. InAthens, at least, the greatest pains were taken with the internal organizationof this body so that it seems to ; us, aswill appear from the investigations respecting this state, tohave been almost too artificial.Regulations, similar inkind, though not exactly the same, were probably establishedin the other cities, where similar wants and circumstancesprevailed.It is easy to perceive, that the preservation ofthe internal liberties of such a body against the encroachments of parties and too powerful individuals, made suchregulations essential. It was probably to promote this end,that the appointments to the council were made only for theyear. 1It prevented the committee from becoming a faction,and thus assuming the whole administration of the state.But beside this, another great advantage was gained ;for inthis manner, by far the larger number of distinguished andupright citizens, became acquainted with the affairs and thegovernment of the state.In other cities, instead of this annual council, there wasa senate (cye/soWa), which had no periodical change of itsmembers, but formed a permanent board. Its very nameexpresses that it was composed of the elders and what;wasmore natural, than to look for good counsel to the experience of maturity? The rule respecting age may have beenvery different in the several cities, and perhaps in many norule on the subject existed. But in others, it was enforcedwith rigorous accuracy. The immediate object was to havein it a board of counsel ;but its sphere of action was bymeans noso limited. In Sparta, the assembly of elders had itsplace by the side of the kings. The senate of Corinth is]This plains why Aristotle, Polit. iv.tavouraole to the form of government15, calls the povXj an institution