which we commonly call the Government.  In the first sense, to be under the state, but not the state itself, nor any part of it, that is, to be nothing at all in the commonwealth, is a situation perfectly intelligible,—­but to those who fill that situation, not very pleasant, when it is understood.  It is a state of civil servitude, by the very force of the definition. Servorum non est respublica is a very old and a very true maxim.  This servitude, which makes men subject to a state without being citizens, may be more or less tolerable from many circumstances; but these circumstances, more or less favorable, do not alter the nature of the thing.  The mildness by which absolute masters exercise their dominion leaves them masters still.  We may talk a little presently of the manner in which the majority of the people of Ireland (the Catholics) are affected by this situation, which at present undoubtedly is theirs, and which you are of opinion ought so to continue forever.

In the other sense of the word State, by which is understood the Supreme Government only, I must observe this upon the question:  that to exclude whole classes of men entirely from this part of government cannot be considered as absolute slavery.  It only implies a lower and degraded state of citizenship:  such is (with more or less strictness) the condition of all countries in which an hereditary nobility possess the exclusive rule.  This may be no bad mode of government,—­provided that the personal authority of individual nobles be kept in due bounds, that their cabals and factions are guarded against with a severe vigilance, and that the people (who have no share in granting their own money) are subjected to but light impositions, and are otherwise treated with attention, and with indulgence to their humors and prejudices.

The republic of Venice is one of those which strictly confines all the great functions and offices, such as are truly stale functions and state offices, to those who by hereditary right or admission are noble Venetians.  But there are many offices, and some of them not mean nor unprofitable, (that of Chancellor is one,) which are reserved for the cittadini.  Of these all citizens of Venice are capable.  The inhabitants of the terra firma, who are mere subjects of conquest, that is, as you express it, under the state, but “not a part of it,” are not, however, subjects in so very rigorous a sense as not to be capable of numberless subordinate employments.  It is, indeed, one of the advantages attending the narrow bottom of their aristocracy, (narrow as compared with their acquired dominions, otherwise broad enough,) that an exclusion from such employments cannot possibly be made amongst their subjects.  There are, besides, advantages in states so constituted, by which those who are considered as of an inferior race are indemnified for their exclusion