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divine love set over us as a race of beings of a superior order
to men； and who； with great ease to themselves； might regulate
our affairs and establish peace； modesty； freedom； and justice；
and； totally destroying all sedition； might complete the
happiness of the human race。 So far； at least； may even now be
said with truth； that in all states which are under the
government of mere man； without any divine assistance； there is
nothing but labor and misery to be found。 From what I have said；
therefore； we may at least learn； with our utmost endeavors； to
imitate the Saturnian institution； borrowing all assistance from
our immortal part； while we pay to this the strictest obedience；
we should form both our private economy and public policy from
its dictates。 By this dispensation of our immortal minds we are
to establish a law and to call it by that name。 But if any
government be in the hands of a single person； of the few； or of
the many； and such governor or governors shall abandon himself or
themselves to the unbridled pursuit of the wildest pleasures or
desires； unable to restrain any passion； but possessed with an
insatiable bad disease； if such shall attempt to govern； and at
the same time to trample on all laws； there can be no means of
preservation left for the wretched people。〃 Plato de Leg。； lib。
iv。 p。 713； c。 714； edit。 Serrani。
It is true that Plato is here treating of the highest or
sovereign power in a state； but it is as true that his
observations are general and may be applied to all inferior
powers； and； indeed； every subordinate degree is immediately
derived from the highest； and； as it is equally protected by the
same force and sanctified by the same authority； is alike
dangerous to the well…being of the subject。 Of all powers；
perhaps； there is none so sanctified and protected as this which
is under our present consideration。 So numerous； indeed； and
strong； are the sanctions given to it by many acts of parliament；
that； having once established the laws of customs on merchandise；
it seems to have been the sole view of the legislature to
strengthen the hands and to protect the persons of the officers
who became established by those laws； many of whom are so far
from bearing any resemblance to the Saturnian institution； and to
be chosen from a degree of beings superior to the rest of human
race； that they sometimes seem industriously picked out of the
lowest and vilest orders of mankind。 There is； indeed； nothing；
so useful to man in general； nor so beneficial to particular
societies and individuals； as trade。 This is that alma mater at
whose plentiful breast all mankind are nourished。 It is true；
like other parents； she is not always equally indulgent to all
her children； but； though she gives to her favorites a vast
proportion of redundancy and superfluity； there are very few whom
she refuses to supply with the conveniences； and none with the
necessaries； of life。
Such a benefactress as this must naturally be beloved by mankind
in general； it would be wonderful； therefore； if her interest was
not considered by them； and protected from the fraud and violence
of some of her rebellious offspring； who； coveting more than
their share or more than she thinks proper to allow them； are
daily employed in meditating mischief against her； and in
endeavoring to steal from their brethren those shares which this
great alma mater had allowed them。
At length our governor came on board； and about six in the
evening we weighed anchor； and fell down to the Nore； whither our
passage was extremely pleasant； the evening being very
delightful； the moon just past the full； and both wind and tide
favorable to us。
Tuesday； July 2。This morning we again set sail； under all the
advantages we had enjoyed the evening before。 This day we left
the shore of Essex and coasted along Kent； passing by the
pleasant island of Thanet； which is an island； and that of
Sheppy； which is not an island； and about three o 'clock； the
wind being now full in our teeth； we came to an anchor in the
Downs； within two miles of Deal。My wife； having suffered
intolerable pain from her tooth； again renewed her resolution of
having it drawn； and another surgeon was sent for from Deal； but
with no better success than the former。 He likewise declined the
operation； for the same reason which had been assigned by the
former： however； such was her resolution； backed with pain； that
he was obliged to make the attempt； which concluded more in honor
of his judgment than of his operation； for； after having put my
poor wife to inexpressible torment； he was obliged to leave her
tooth in statu quo； and she had now the comfortable prospect of a
long fit of pain； which might have lasted her whole voyage；
without any possibility of relief。 In these pleasing sensations；
of which I had my just share； nature； overcome with fatigue；
about eight in the evening resigned her to resta circumstance
which would have given me some happiness； could I have known how
to employ those spirits which were raised by it； but；
unfortunately for me； I was left in a disposition of enjoying an
agreeable hour without the assistance of a companion； which has
always appeared to me necessary to such enjoyment； my daughter
and her companion were both retired sea…sick to bed； the other
passengers were a rude school…boy of fourteen years old and an
illiterate Portuguese friar； who understood no language but his
own； in which I had not the least smattering。 The captain was
the only person left in whose conversation I might indulge
myself； but unluckily； besides a total ignorance of everything in
the world but a ship； he had the misfortune of being so deaf；
that to make him hear； I will not say understand； my words； I
must run the risk of conveying them to the ears of my wife； who；
though in another room （called； I think； the state…roombeing；
indeed； a most stately apartment； capable of containing one human
body in length； if not very tall； and three bodies in breadth）；
lay asleep within a yard of me。 In this situation necessity and
choice were one and the same thing； the captain and I sat down
together to a small bowl of punch； over which we both soon fell
fast asleep； and so concluded the evening。
Wednesday； July 3。This morning I awaked at four o'clock for my
distemper seldom suffered me to sleep later。 I presently got up；
and had the pleasure of enjoying the sight of a tempestuous sea
for four hours before the captain was stirring； for he loved to
indulge himself in morning slumbers； which were attended with a
wind…music； much more agreeable to the performers than to the
hearers； especially such as have； as I had； the privilege of
sitting in the orchestra。 At eight o 'clock the captain rose；
and sent his boat on shore。 I ordered my man likewise to go in
it； as my distemper was not of that kind which entirely deprives
us of appetite。 Now； though the captain had well victualled his
ship with all manner of salt provisions for the voyage； and had
added great quantities of fresh stores； particularly of
vegetables； at Gravesend； such as beans and peas； which had been
on board only two days； and had possibly not been gathered above
two more； I apprehended I could provide better for myself at Deal
than the ship's ordinary seemed to promise。 I accordingly sent
for fresh provisions of all kinds from the shore； in order to put
off the evil day of starving as long as possible。 My man
returned with most of the articles I sent for； and I now thought
myself in a condition of living a week on my own provisions。 I
therefore ordered my own dinner； which I wanted nothing but a
cook to dress and a proper fire to dress it at； but those were
not to be had； nor indeed any addition to my roast mutton； except
the pleasure of the captain's company； with that of the other
passengers； for my wife continued the whole day in a state of
dozing； and my other females； whose sickness did not abate by the
rolling of the ship at anchor； seemed more inclined to empty
their stomachs than to fill them。 Thus I passed the whole day
（except about an hour at dinner） by myself； and the evening
concluded with the captain as the preceding one had done； one
comfortable piece of news he communicated to me； which was； that
he had no doubt of a prosperous wind in the morning； but as he
did not divulge the reasons of this confidence； and as I saw none
myself besides the wind being directly opposite； my faith in this
prophecy was not strong enough to build any great hopes upon。
Thursday； July 4。This morning； however； the captain seemed
resolved to fulfill his own predictions； whether the wind would
or no； he accordingly weighed anchor； and； taking the advantage
of the tide when the wind was not very boisterous； he hoisted his
sails； and； as if his power had been no less absolute over Aeolus
than it was ov