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120 ANCIENT GREECE, [CHAP. ix.must have had a magistratelike the Archons in Athens ;and yetit would not be easyto find the name in any other.The numerous encroachments made by the lawgivers ondomestic life,contributed much to multiplythe offices ofmagistrates and extend their sphereof action. The Grecianshad formed no idea of a as police,a general branch of thebut they were acquainted withadministration of the state ;several of its branches ;and although they had no genera)board of police,the circumstances just mentioned led themto establish several particular branches; and even some,which are not usual in our times. The superintendence^*women, the superintendence of children, was inmany citieslintrusted to particular magistratesand as the ;Areopagusof Athens had in generalthe care of morals, there were undoubtedly similar tribunals in other Grecian cities.Thus then it appears, that amidst an almost infinite varietyof forms, assemblies of the citizens, senates, and magistracies,are the institutions which belonged to every Grecian commonwealth. The preservationof freedom and equalityamong the commons Q formed their chief object.It was notconsidered unjustto take from any one, of whom it was onlyfeared that he might become dangerous to this freedom, thepower of doing injury, by a temporary banishment from the3cityand this took ; place at Athens and Argos by ostracism,and by petalismin Syracuse. Nothing can be more jealousthan the love of liberty ;and unfortunatelyfor mankind,experience shows but too clearly that it has reason to be so.Nevertheless, neither these nor other precautions wereable to save the Grecian cities from the usurpationsoJtyrants, as they were termed. Few cities, in the mothexcountry, and in the colonies, escaped this fate. The Grecians connected with this word the idea of an illegitimate,but not necessarily of a cruel government.It was illegitimate, because it was not conferred by the commons bul;usurped without, or even against their A will.demagogue,however great his power may have been, was never, as such,denominated a tyrant but he;received the name, if he seihimself above the people that;is, if he refused to lay before1The jwaixovofjL&i and the irat&jvo/uot. Aristot. 1. c.%The avrovopia and wrovojuca.a Aristot, Polit. v. 3.