Conformably to the principle which pervades all states, that make property the qualification for office, to property the general taxation was apportioned.

And this, upon a graduated scale, severe to the first class, and completely exonerating the lowest.

The ranks of the citizens thus established, the constitution acknowledged three great councils or branches of legislature.

The first was that of the venerable Areopagus.

We have already seen that this institution had long existed among the Athenians; but of late it had fallen into some obscurity or neglect, and was not even referred to in the laws of Draco.