“They always pursue some profession or trade, by the profits of which they support themselves.  We have nothing but intellect and ingenuity to export; for though our country produces every thing, there is no commodity that we can so well spare.  Their talents find them employment every where; and the necessity they are under of a laborious exertion of these talents, and of submitting to a great deal from those whose customs and manners are not to their taste, and whom they feel inferior to themselves, is a considerable check to the desire to go abroad, so much so, that we hold out the farther inducement of political distinction when they return.”

“What, then! you have ambition among you?”

“Certainly; our institutions have only tempered it, and not vainly endeavoured to extinguish it; and we find it employment in this way:  Of our youthful travellers, those who are most diligent in their vocation; who give the most useful information, and communicate it in the happiest manner, are made magistrates, on their return, and sometimes have statues decreed to them.  Besides, the name which their conduct or talents procure them abroad, is echoed back to the valley, long before their return, and has much influence in the general estimate of their character.

“But have you not many more competitors, than you have public offices?”

“There are, without doubt, many who desire office; but to manifest their wish, would be one of the surest means of defeating it.  We require modesty, (at least in appearance,) moderation and disinterestedness, and of course, the less pains a candidate takes to show himself off, the better.”

“But have they no friends, who can at once render them this service, and relieve them from the odium of it?”

“There is, indeed, somewhat of this; but you must remember, that the highest of our magistrates has comparatively little power.  He has no army, no treasury, no patronage; he merely executes the laws.  But, as a farther check on the immoderate zeal of friends, the expense of doing this, as well as of maintaining him in office, is defrayed by those who vote for him.  There seems, at first view, but little justice in this regulation; but we think, that as every one cannot have his way, those who carry their point, and have the power, should also bear the burden:  besides, in this way the voices of the most generous and disinterested prevail.  We have,” he added, “found this the most difficult part of our government.  We once thought that the very lively interest excited in the electioneering contests, particularly for that of Gompoo, or chief magistrate, was to be ascribed to the power he possessed; and we resorted to various expedients to lessen it—­such as dividing it among a greater number—­requiring a quick rotation of office—­abridging the powers themselves:  but we discovered, that however small the power, the distinction it gave to those who possessed it, was always an object of lively interest