Originally published in The Literary Chronicle and Weekly Review (J. Limbird) vol.1 #28 (27 Nov 1819).
The ancient Romans generally went with their heads bare; or, in rain or cold weather, covered them with the corners of their toga or robe. Cæsar, their first emperor, having a bald head, covered it with laurels, as did the late Marquis of Granby, from the same cause. Indeed, the ancients, when either old or infirm, indulged themselves with wearing a cap. As age was then honourable, so caps became marks of honour; as none could then be deemed honourable who were not free, the cap, by degrees, became the badge of freedom; and, when a slave was made a freeman, he had a cap given to him, which he was permitted to wear in public.
The Pileus, or Cap of Liberty, is quite simple in its form, common in its texture, and of a whitish colour. It is in the form of a sugar loaf, broad at the bottom, and ending like a cone. This denotes that freedom stands on the broad basis of humanity; and it runs up to a pyramid, the emblem of eternity, to shew it ought to last for ever. It is simple, for liberty is, in itself, the most splendid ornament of man. It hath no gilded trappings which too often mark the livery of despotism. It is made of wool, to signify that liberty is the birthright of the shepherd, as well as the senator; lastly, the Cap of Liberty is whitish, the native colour of the wool undyed.—This denominates that it should be natural, without deceiving gloss, unspotted by faction, and unstained by tyranny.