A VIEW OF SOCIETY

them to be wisdom; and, though remarkable forcourage, both active and passive, they exposed itto suspicion by the arts which, in a cultivated age,are characteristic of the pusillanimous ( 13).

It is also remarkable, that, though attentive tojustice, with a punctilious exactness, within thebounds of their particular nations, they despisedit with regard to other states and communities.Beyond the frontier of his tribe, the German wasa thief and a robber. While, in the one instance,his theft or depredation was a crime of the deepestdie , and punished with death, it was, in theother, a mark of valor, and an expression of virtue.To make incursions against a neighbouring people,though at peace; to carry off their cattle, and tolay waste their territory, were actions of renownand greatness. They roused the ambition of thevalorous, and were occupations in which theyacquired reputation, and prepared themselves forscenes of greater danger and glory ( 14).

But , the circumstance in the customs of thesenations the most valuable , and which , like all theirmore remarkable features, arose from their unac-quaintance with property, was the passion theyentertained for independence and liberty. Everyperson who was free, considered himself in thelight of a legislator. The people prescribed theregulations they were to obey. They marched tothe national assembly to judge, to reform , and topunish ; and the magistrate and the sovereign , in-stead of controlling their power, were to respectand to submit to it. Stated or regular terms were