The Old _Adage_ of _Asinus ad Lyram_, answers this Figure to the
very Letter. The Fable extends to all Incompetent Judges, Umpires
or Arbitrators, in what Case or Matter, or under what Incapacity or
Disability soever. It Points at the Folly and Scandal of the Choice too,
as well as the Iniquity of the Sentence; for the Honour of the Governor,
and the Well-being of the Government, depend in a great Measure upon the
Fitness of the Officer, let his Commission be Ecclesiastical, Civil,
Military, or what else it will. Here’s an _Ass_ made a Judge of _Musick_;
a Faculty that he neither Loves nor Understands; for there’s _no Song to
One Ass, like the Braying off Another_. Let any Man fancy to Himself,
how it would look to put a _Law-Case_ to a _Jack-Pudding_; a Question of
_State_ to a _Corn Cutter_; a Point of _Conscience_ to a _Knight of the
Post_. In short, let every Man be Consulted and Credited in his own Way
and Trade. Neither can it be Expected that a Fool should judge according
to Wisdom, Truth, Reason and Justice. There may be very proper Exceptions
too upon the Matter, as well of Morals, as of Abilities. One would not
trust a Covetous Man in Mony Matters, where there’s anything to be
Gotten, either by Fraud or Corruption; nor a Vain Man, where there’s a
Temptation to Popularity. False men are not to be taken into Confidence;
nor Fearful Men into a Post that requires Resolution; nor Cruel, Insolent
Men, into a Station where Power may be Abus’d to Oppression. All these
Absurdities fall within the Dint of this Fable; for want of Honesty makes
a Judge as Incompetent, as want of Understanding.