like a wave of the sea. Nor shall it otherwise mend the matter by
flowing up into dry ditches, or referring businesses to be better
examined by committees, than to go further about with it to less
purpose; if it does not ebb back again with the more mud in it.
For in a case referred to an occasional committee, of which any
member that is desirous may get himself named, and to which
nobody will come but either for the sake of his friend or his own
interest; it fares little better as to the information of the
Senate, than if it had been referred to the parties. Wherefore
the Athenians being distributed into four tribes, out of which by
equal numbers they annually chose 400 men, called the Senate of
the Bean, because the ballot at their election was performed by
the use of beans, divided them by fifties into eight parts. And
every fifty in their turn, for one-eighth part of the year, was a
council apart called the Prytans.

"The Prytans in their distinct council receiving all comers,
and giving ear to every man that had anything to propose
concerning the commonwealth, had power to debate and prepare all
the businesses that were to be introduced into the Senate. The
Achaeans had ten selected magistrates called the demiurgs,
constituting a council apart called the synarchy, which, with the
strategus, prepared all the business that was introduced into
their Senate. But both the Senate of the Athenians, and that of
the Achaeans, would have wondered if a man had told them that
they were to receive all comers and discourses, to the end that
they might refer them afterward to the Prytans or the synarchy,
much less to an occasional committee, exposed to the catch that
catch may of the parties interested. And yet Venice in this, as
in most of her orders, excels them all by the constitution of her