all these things at their general assemblies;
so that, perhaps, at this time, it is amongst these people only that the
office of a king is the same as it was at its first institution;--viz. a
father and protector of his people.

The laws of these people are few and simple, but most exactly and
punctually observed; the fundamental of which is, that strong love and
mutual regard for each member in particular, and for the whole community
in general, which is inculcated into them from their earliest infancy; so
that this whole community is connected by stronger bands of love and
harmony, than oftentimes subsist even in private families under other
governments; this naturally prevents all oppressions, fraud, and
over-reachings of one another, so common amongst other people, and
totally extinguishes that bitter passion of the mind (the source,
perhaps, of most of the other vices) envy; for it is a great and certain
truth, that Love worketh no evil.

Their general meetings at stated times, which all are obliged to be
present at, is a very strong cement of their love, and indeed of all
their other virtues; for, as the general register of their actions, which
we have before spoken of, is read at these meetings, those who have
deserved well of the community, are honoured by some token or distinction
in the sight of all the rest; and those who have done any thing against
their fundamental laws, have some mark of ignominy put upon them; for
they have no high sense of pecuniary rewards, and they think the
punishing of the body of little service towards amending the mind.
Experience has shown them, that, by keeping up this nice sense of honour
and shame, they are always enabled to keep their community in better
order than the most severe corporeal punishments have been able to effect
in other governments.

But what has still more tended to preserve their happiness is, that they
know no other use of riches than the enjoyment of them; but, as the word
is liable to be misconstrued by many of our readers, we think it
necessary to inform them, we do not mean by it that sordid enjoyment
which the miser feels when he bolts up his money in a well-secured iron
chest, or that delicious pleasure he is sensible of when he counts over
his hoarded stores, and finds they are increased with a half-guinea, or
even a half-crown; nor do we mean that enjoyment which the well-known Mr.
K---, {12} the man-eater, feels when he draws out his money from hi