First among necessary offices is that which has the care of the
market; a magistrate should be appointed to inspect contracts and to
maintain order. For in every state there must inevitably be buyers and
sellers who will supply one another's wants; this is the readiest
way to make a state self-sufficing and so fulfill the purpose for
which men come together into one state. A second office of a similar
kind undertakes the supervision and embellishment of public and
private buildings, the maintaining and repairing of houses and
roads, the prevention of disputes about boundaries, and other concerns
of a like nature. This is commonly called the office of City Warden,
and has various departments, which, in more populous towns, are shared
among different persons, one, for example, taking charge of the walls,
another of the fountains, a third of harbors. There is another equally
necessary office, and of a similar kind, having to do with the same
matters without the walls and in the country- the magistrates who hold
this office are called Wardens of the country, or Inspectors of the
woods. Besides these three there is a fourth office of receivers of
taxes, who have under their charge the revenue which is distributed
among the various departments; these are called Receivers or
Treasurers. Another officer registers all private contracts, and
decisions of the courts, all public indictments, and also all
preliminary proceedings.
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