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'Tis from theſe Conſiderations (I apprehend) that our Laws forbid the buying and ſelling Men, there being ſuch an abſolute Inconſiſtency in the Conditions of a Free-born Engliſh Man and a Slave, that they will by no Means comport in the ſame Community.
From hence alſo, one Part of domeſtick Authority is relaxed from what it was amongſt the Romans. With them a Son was eſteemed ſo much at the Father's Diſpoſition, that by an obſolete Law, the Father was inveſted with the Power of Life and Death; but afterwards with that of moderate Correction only; yet the Son was ſtill his Father's Property. and could be freed from his Juriſdiction only by being advanced to ſome dignified Office in the State, or by Emancipation.
The Father's Power over the Son's Property alſo was very correſpondent to that over his Perſon: But this domeſtick Authority, being thought inconſiſent with the Nature of our free Conſtitution, which admits not of arbitrary Proceedings, at the Age that a Child is ſuppoſed to be able to judge for himſelf, he is at his own Diſpoſal, as is alſo his Property.
What I would obſerve from hence is, that tho' domeſtick Authority is leſſened as to
Children,
