Chap. I.j

DUTIES OF PATRIOTISM

109

with infidelity and licentiousness. How often has it occurred inthe history of the world, that the licentious principles and openimmoralities of a profligate court have infected an entire nationwith the virulence of their poison ? The profligate Charles theSecond, of Great Britain, infected every rank and order of socie-ty in the kingdom, with the moral poison which his sentimentsand example infused.

There is at least one vice, which official persons, if they couldbe brought to combine their influence, might bring into such dis-repute, as to expel it from society. I refer to duelling, whichdepends entirely for its reputation on the countenance given itby the distinguished and the influential. The good example ofthe same class of men in respect to gaming, intemperance indrinking, luxury, and extravagance of every kind, if less com-pletely successful, still could not fail to be highly effective andsalutary. The opposite example descends from them to men inmore humble circumstances of life, until, like a flood, it desolatesevery village and neighbourhood with the overwhelming mischiefand ruin which march in its train. In the most elective gov-ernment, not all offices are elective, many are filled by appoint-ment ; and it is among the most solemn of the responsibilities ofthose who hold the appointing power, to select, for official trust,those among the citizens, who are most distinguished for industry,for understanding, for public spirit and for integrity, as well as tofill each department of the public service with men whose talentsare best suited to its peculiar business, and to unite in eachpublic officer, in the greatest practicable measure, purity of pri-vate morals with the lustre of official talents.*

See Gisborne’s Inquiry, Vol. I. p. 58, &c.