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OF THEIR MAGISTRATES
"Thirty families choose every year a magistrate, who was anciently
called the Syphogrant, but is now called the Philarch; and over
every ten Syphogrants, with the families subject to them, there is
another magistrate, who was anciently called the Tranibore, but of
late the Archphilarch. All the Syphogrants, who are in number two
hundred, choose the Prince out of a list of four who are named by
the people of the four divisions of the city; but they take an
oath, before they proceed to an election, that they will choose him
whom they think most fit for the office: they give him their
voices secretly, so that it is not known for whom every one gives
his suffrage. The Prince is for life, unless he is removed upon
suspicion of some design to enslave the people. The Tranibors are
new chosen every year, but yet they are, for the most part,
continued; all their other magistrates are only annual. The
Tranibors meet every third day, and oftener if necessary, and
consult with the Prince either concerning the affairs of the State
in general, or such private differences as may arise sometimes
among the people, though that falls out but seldom. There are
always two Syphogrants called into the council chamber, and these
are changed every day. It is a fundamental rule of their
government, that no conclusion can be made in anything that relates
to the public till it has been first debated three several days in
their council. It is death for any to meet and consult concerning
the State, unless it be either in their ordinary council, or in the
assembly of the whole body of the people.
"These things have been so provided among them that the Prince and
the Tranibors may not conspire together to change the government
and enslave the people; and therefore when anything of great
importance is set on foot, it is sent to the Syphogrants, who,
after they have communicated it to the families that belong to
their divisions, and have considered it among themselves, make
report to the senate; and, upon great occasions, the matter is
referred to the council of the whole island. One rule observed in
their council is, never to debate a thing on the same day in which
it is first proposed; for that is always referred to the next
meeting, that so men may not rashly and in the heat of discourse
engage themselves too soon, which might bias them so much that,
instead of consulting the good of the public, they might rather
study to support their first opinions, and by a perverse and
preposterous sort of shame hazard their country rather than
endanger their own reputation, or venture the being suspected to
have wanted foresight in the expedients that they at first
proposed; and therefore, to prevent this, they take care that they
may rather be deliberate than sudden in their motions.
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