ed in the single interrogatory of "is
he rich?"

There was one effect of this very unusual state of things, that I had
not anticipated. All the money-getting classes, without exception,
showed a singular predilection in favor of what is commonly called a
strong government; being not only a republic, but virtually a democracy,
I found that much the larger portion of this highly respectable class
of citizens, were not at all backward in expressing their wish for a
change.

"How is this?" I demanded of the brigadier, whom I rarely quitted;
for his advice and opinions were of great moment to me, just at this
particular crisis--"how is this, my good friend? I have always been led
to think trade is especially favorable to liberty; and here are all
your commercial interests the loudest in their declamations against the
institutions."

The brigadier smiled; it was but a melancholy smile, after all; for his
spirits appeared to have quite deserted him.

"There are three great divisions among politicians," he said--"they who
do not like liberty at all--they who like it, as low down as their
own particular class--and they who like it for the sake of their
fellow-creatures. The first are not numerous, but powerful by means
of combinations; the second is a very irregular corps, including, as
a matter of course, nearly everybody, but is wanting, of necessity, in
concert and discipline, since no one descends below his own level; the
third are but few, alas, how few! and are composed of those who look
beyond their own selfishness. Now, your merchants, dwelling in towns,
and possessing concert, means, and identity of interests, have been able
to make themselves remarkable for contending with despotic power, a
fact which has obtained for them a cheap reputation for liberality of
opinion; but, so far as monikin experience goes--men may have proved
to be better disposed--no government that is essentially influenced by
commerce has ever been otherwise than exclusive, or aristocratic."

I bethought me of Venice, Genoa, Pisa, the Hanse Towns, and all the
other remarkable places of this character in Europe, and I felt the
justice of my friend's distinction, at the same time I could not but
observe how much more the minds of men are under the influence of names
and abstractions than under the influence of positive things. To this
opinion the brigadier very readily assented, remarking, at the same
time, that a well-wrought theory had genera