Theinstitutionofthedomestictribunal[20]suppliedthemagistracyestablishedamongtheGreeks。[21]
  Thehusbandsummonedthewife’srelatives,andtriedherintheirpresence。[22]Thistribunalpreservedthemannersoftherepublic;andatthesametimethoseverymannersmaintainedthistribunal。Foritdecidednotonlyinrespecttotheviolationofthelaws,butalsoofmanners:now,inordertojudgeoftheviolationofthelatter,mannersarerequisite。Thepenaltiesinflictedbythistribunaloughttobe,andactuallywere,arbitrary:forallthatrelatestomanners,andtotherulesofmodesty,canhardlybecomprisedunderonecodeoflaws。Itiseasyindeedtoregulatebylawswhatweowetoothers;butitisverydifficultofcompriseallweowetoourselves。
  Thedomestictribunalinspectedthegeneralconductofwomen:buttherewasonecrimewhich,besidetheanimadversionofthistribunal,waslikewisesubjecttoapublicaccusation。Thiswasadultery;whetherthatinarepublicsogreatadepravationofmannersinterestedthegovernment;orwhetherthewife’simmoralitymightrenderthehusbandsuspected;orwhether,infine,theywereafraidlestevenhonestpeoplemightchoosethatthiscrimeshouldratherbeconcealedthanpunished。
  11。InwhatMannertheInstitutionschangedatRome,togetherwiththeGovernment。Asmannersweresupportedbythedomestictribunal,theywerealsosupportedbythepublicaccusation;andhenceitisthatthesetwothingsfelltogetherwiththepublicmanners,andendedwiththerepublic。[23]
  Theestablishingofperpetualquestions,thatis,thedivisionofjurisdictionamongthepr?tors,andthecustomgraduallyintroducedofthepr?torsdeterminingallcausesthemselves,[24]weakenedtheuseofthedomestictribunal。Thisappearsbythesurpriseofhistorians,wholookuponthedecisionswhichTiberiuscausedtobegivenbythistribunalassingularfacts,andasarenewaloftheancientcourseofpleading。
  Theestablishmentofmonarchyandthechangeofmannersputlikewiseanendtopublicaccusations。Itmightbeapprehendedlestadishonestman,affrontedattheslightshownhimbyawoman,vexedatherrefusal,andirritatedevenbyhervirtue,shouldformadesigntodestroyher。TheJulianlawordainedthatawomanshouldnotbeaccusedofadulterytillafterherhusbandhadbeenchargedwithfavouringherirregularities;
  whichlimitedgreatly,andannihilated,asitwere,thissortofaccusation。[25]SextusQuintusseemedtohavebeendesirousofrevivingthepublicaccusations。[26]Butthereneedsverylittlereflectiontoseethatthislawwouldbemoreimproperinsuchamonarchyashisthaninanyother。
  12。OftheGuardianshipofWomenamongtheRomans。TheRomanlawssubjectedwomentoaperpetualguardianship,excepttheywereundercoverandsubjecttotheauthorityofahusband。[27]Thisguardianshipwasgiventothenearestofthemalerelatives;andbyavulgarexpression[28]itappearstheywereverymuchconfined。Thiswasproperforarepublic,butnotatallnecessaryinamonarchy。[29]
  ThatthewomenamongtheancientGermanswerelikewiseunderaperpetualtutelageappearsfromthedifferentcodesoftheLawsoftheBarbarians。[30]Thiscustomwascommunicatedtothemonarchiesfoundedbythosepeople;butwasnotoflongduration。
  13。OfthePunishmentsdecreedbytheEmperorsagainsttheIncontinenceofWomen。TheJulianlawordainedapunishmentagainstadultery。Butsofarwasthislaw,anymorethanthoseafterwardsmadeonthesameaccount,frombeingamarkofregularityofmanners,thatonthecontraryitwasaproofoftheirdepravity。
  Thewholepoliticalsysteminrespecttowomenreceivedachangeinthemonarchicalstate。Thequestionwasnolongertoobligethemtoaregularityofmanners,buttopunishtheircrimes。Thatnewlawsweremadetopunishtheircrimeswasowingtotheirleavingthosetransgressionsunpunishedwhichwerenotofsocriminalanature。
  Thefrightfuldissolutionofmannersobligedindeedtheemperorstoenactlawsinordertoputsomestoptolewdness;butitwasnottheirintentiontoestablishageneralreformation。Ofthisthepositivefactsrelatedbyhistoriansareamuchstrongerproofthanalltheselawscanbeofthecontrary。WemayseeinDiotheconductofAugustusonthisoccasion,andinwhatmannerheeluded,bothinhispr?torianandcensorianoffice,therepeatedinstancesthatweremadehim[31]forthatpurpose。
  Itistruethatwefindinhistoriansveryrigidsentences,passedinthereignsofAugustusandTiberius,againstthelewdnessofsomeRomanladies:butbyshowingusthespiritofthosereigns,atthesametimetheydemonstratethespiritofthosedecisions。
  TheprincipaldesignofAugustusandTiberiuswastopunishthedissolutenessoftheirrelatives。Itwasnottheirimmoralitytheypunished,butaparticularcrimeofimpietyorhightreason[32]oftheirowninvention,whichservedtopromotearespectformajesty,andansweredtheirprivaterevenge。HenceitisthattheRomanhistoriansinveighsobitterlyagainstthistyranny。
  ThepenaltyoftheJulianlawwassmall。[33]Theemperorsinsistedthatinpassingsentencethejudgesshouldincreasethepenaltyofthelaw。
  Thiswasthesubjectoftheinvectivesofhistorians。Theydidnotexaminewhetherthewomenweredeservingofpunishment,butwhethertheyhadviolatedthelaw,inordertopunishthem。
  OneofthemosttyrannicalproceedingsofTiberius[34]wastheabusehemadeoftheancientlaws。WhenhewantedtoextendthepunishmentofaRomanladybeyondthatinflictedbytheJulianlaw,herevivedthedomestictribunal。[35]
  Theseregulationsinrespecttowomenconcernedonlysenatorialfamilies,notthecommonpeople。Pretenceswerewantedtoaccusethegreat,whichwereconstantlyfurnishedbythedissolutebehaviouroftheladies。
  Infine,whatIhaveaboveobserved,namely,thatregularityofmannersisnottheprincipleofmonarchy,wasneverbetterverifiedthanunderthosefirstemperors;andwhoeverdoubtsitneedonlyreadTacitus,Suetonius,Juvenal,orMartial。
  14。SumptuaryLawsamongtheRomans。Wehavespokenofpublicincontinencebecauseitistheinseparablecompanionofluxury。Ifweleavethemotionsoftheheartatliberty,howshallwebeabletorestraintheweaknessesofthemind?
  AtRome,besidesthegeneralinstitutions,thecensorsprevailedonthemagistratestoenactseveralparticularlawsformaintainingthefrugalityofwomen。ThiswasthedesignoftheFannian,Licinian,andOppianlaws。WemayseeinLivy[36]thegreatfermentthesenatewasinwhenthewomeninsistedupontherevocationoftheOppianlaw。TheabrogationofthislawisfixeduponbyValeriusMaximusastheperiodwhencewemaydatetheluxuryoftheRomans。
  15。OfDowriesandNuptialAdvantagesindifferentConstitutions。
  Dowriesoughttobeconsiderableinmonarchies,inordertoenablehusbandstosupporttheirrankandtheestablishedluxury。Inrepublics,whereluxuryshouldneverreign,[37]theyoughttobemoderate;butthereshouldbehardlyanyatallindespoticgovernments,wherewomenareinsomemeasureslaves。
  ThecommunityofgoodsintroducedbytheFrenchlawsbetweenmanandwifeisextremelywelladaptedtoamonarchicalgovernment;becausethewomenaretherebyinterestedindomesticaffairs,andcompelled,asitwere,totakecareoftheirfamily。Itislesssoinarepublic,wherewomenarepossessedofmorevirtue。Butitwouldbequiteabsurdindespoticgovernments,wherethewomenthemselvesgenerallyconstituteapartofthemaster’sproperty。
  Aswomenareinastatethatfurnishessufficientinducementstomarriage,theadvantageswhichthelawgivesthemoverthehusband’spropertyareofnoservicetosociety。Butinarepublictheywouldbeextremelyprejudicial,becauserichesareproductiveofluxury。Indespoticgovernmentstheprofitsaccruingfrommarriageoughttobemeresubsistence,andnomore。
  16。AnexcellentCustomoftheSamnites。TheSamniteshadacustomwhichinsosmallarepublic,andespeciallyintheirsituation,musthavebeenproductiveofadmirableeffects。Theyoungpeoplewereallconvenedinoneplace,andtheirconductwasexamined。Hethatwasdeclaredthebestofthewholeassemblyhadleavegivenhimtotakewhichgirlhepleasedforhiswife;thesecondbestchoseafterhim;andsoon。[38]
  Admirableinstitution!Theonlyrecommendationthatyoungmencouldhaveonthisoccasionwastheirvirtueandtheservicesdonetheircountry。
  Hewhohadthegreatestshareoftheseendowmentschosewhichgirlhelikedoutofthewholenation。Love,beauty,chastity,virtue,birth,andevenwealthitself,wereall,insomemeasure,thedowryofvirtue。
  Anoblerandgranderrecompense,lesschargeabletoapettystate,andmorecapableofinfluencingbothsexes,couldscarcelybeimagined。
  TheSamnitesweredescendedfromtheLaced?monians;andPlato,whoseinstitutesareonlyanimprovementofthoseofLycurgus,enactednearlythesamelaw。[39]
  17。OfFemaleAdministration。Itiscontrarytoreasonandnaturethatwomenshouldreigninfamilies,aswascustomaryamongtheEgyptians;
  butnotthattheyshouldgovernanempire。Intheformercasethestateoftheirnaturalweaknessdoesnotpermitthemtohavethepre—eminence;
  inthelattertheirveryweaknessgenerallygivesthemmorelenityandmoderation,qualificationsfitterforagoodadministrationthanroughnessandseverity。
  IntheIndiestheyareveryeasyunderafemalegovernment;anditissettledthatifthemaleissuebenotofamotherofthesameblood,thefemalesbornofamotheroftheblood—royalmustsucceed。[40]Andthentheyhaveacertainnumberofpersonswhoassistthemtobeartheweightofthegovernment。AccordingtoMr。Smith,[41]theyareveryeasyinAfricaunderfemaleadministration。IftothisweaddtheexampleofEnglandandRussia,weshallfindthattheysucceedalikebothinmoderateanddespoticgovernments。
  ______
  1。Thefirstcensuswasthehereditaryshareinland,andPlatowouldnotallowthemtohave,inothereffects,aboveatripleofthehereditaryshare。SeehisLaws,v。
  2。"Inlargeandpopulouscities,"saystheauthoroftheFableoftheBees,i,p。133,"theywearclothesabovetheirrank,and,consequently,havethepleasureofbeingesteemedbyavastmajority,notaswhattheyare,butwhattheyappeartobe。Theyhavethesatisfactionofimaginingthattheyappearwhattheywouldbe:which,toweakminds,isapleasurealmostassubstantialastheycouldreapfromtheveryaccomplishmentoftheirwishes。"
  3。Chapters3,4。
  4。Fragmentofthe36thbookofDiodorus,quotedbyConstantinePorphyrogenitus,inhisExtractofVirtuesandVices。
  5。Cummaximusomniumimpetusadluxuriantesset。——Ibid。
  6。DeMoribusGermanorum,44。
  7。DioCassius,liv。16。
  8。Tacitus,Annals,iii。34。
  9。Maltaduritieiveterummeliusetlatiusmutata——Tacitus,Annals,iii。34。
  10。Opulentiaparituramoxegestatem。——Florus,iii。12。
  11。ConstitutionofJamesIintheyear1234,art。6,inMarcaHispanica,p。1429。
  12。Theyhaveprohibitedrichwinesandothercostlymerchandise。
  13。Lettrespersanes,106。Seebelow,xx。20。
  14。Luxuryhasbeenherealwaysprohibited。
  15。InanordinancequotedbyFatherDuHalde,ii,p。497。
  16。HistoryofChina,21stDynasty,inFatherDuHalde’swork,i。
  17。InadiscoursecitedbyFatherDuHalde,iii,p。418。
  18。"Inrespecttotruelove,"saysPlutarch,"thewomenhavenothingtosaytoit。"InhisTreatiseofLove,p。600。Hespokeinthestyleofhistime。SeeXenophoninthedialogueintitledHiero。
  19。AtAthenstherewasaparticularmagistratewhoinspectedtheconductofwomen。
  20。Romulusinstitutedthistribunal,asappearsfromDionysiusHalicarnassus,ii,p。96。
  21。SeeinLivy,xxxix,theusethatwasmadeofthistribunalatthetimeoftheconspiracyoftheBacchanalians(theygavethenameofconspiracyagainsttherepublictoassembliesinwhichthemoralsofwomenandyoungpeopleweredebauched。)
  22。ItappearsfromDionysiusHalicarnassus,ii,thatRomulus’sinstitutionwasthatinordinarycasesthehusbandshouldsitasjudgeinthepresenceofthewife’srelatives,butthatinheinouscrimesheshoulddetermineinconjunctionwithfiveofthem。HenceUlpian,tit。6,9,12,13,distinguishesinrespecttothedifferentjudgmentsofmannersbetweenthosewhichhecallsimportant,andthosewhicharelessso:moresgraviores,moresleviores。
  23。Judiciodemoribus(quodanteaquideminantiquislegibuspositumerat,nonautemfrequentabatur)penitusabolito。Leg。11。Cod。derepud。
  24。Judiciaextraordinaria。
  25。ItwasentirelyabolishedbyConstantine:"Itisashame,"saidhe,"thatsettledmarriagesshouldbedisturbedbythepresumptionofstrangers。"
  26。SextusQuintusordained,thatifahusbanddidnotcomeandmakehiscomplainttohimofhiswife’sinfidelity,heshouldbeputtodeath。
  SeeLeti,LifeofSextusV。
  27。Nisiconvenissentinmanumviri。
  28。Nesismihipatruusoro。
  29。ThePapianlawordained,underAugustus,thatwomenwhohadbornethreechildrenshouldbeexemptfromthistutelage。
  30。ThistutelagewasbytheGermanscalledMundeburdium。
  31。Upontheirbringingbeforehimayoungmanwhohadmarriedawomanwithwhomhehadbeforecarriedonanillicitcommerce,hehesitatedalongwhile,notdaringtoapproveortopunishthesethings。Atlengthrecollectinghimself,"Seditions,"sayshe,"havebeenthecauseofverygreatevils;letusforgetthem。"Dio,liv。16。Thesenatehavingdesiredhimtogivethemsomeregulationsinrespecttowomen’smorals,heevadedtheirpetitionbytellingthemthattheyshouldchastisetheirwivesinthesamemannerashedidhis;uponwhichtheydesiredhimtotellthemhowhebehavedtohiswife。(Ithinkaveryindiscreetquestion。)
  32。Tacitus,Annals,iii。24。
  33。ThislawisgivenintheDigest,butwithoutmentioningthepenalty。
  Itissupposeditwasonlyrelegatio,becausethatofincestwasonlydeportatio。Leg。,siquisviduam,ff。dequ?st。
  34。Tacitus,Annals,iv。19。
  35。Ibid。,ii。50。
  36。Dec。4,iv。
  37。Marseilleswasthewisestofalltherepublicsinitstime;hereitwasordainedthatdowriesshouldnotexceedonehundredcrownsinmoney,andfiveinclothes,asStraboobserves,iv。
  38。FragmentofNicolausDamascenus,takenfromStob?usinthecollectionofConstantinePorphyrogenitus。
  39。Heevenpermitsthemtohaveamorefrequentinterviewwithoneanother。
  40。EdifyingLetters,coll。xiv。
  41。VoyagetoGuinea,partthesecond,p。165,ofthekingdomofAngola,ontheGoldenCoast。
  BookVIII。OftheCorruptionofthePrinciplesoftheThreeGovernments1。GeneralIdeaofthisBook。Thecorruptionofthisgovernmentgenerallybeginswiththatoftheprinciples。
  2。OftheCorruptionofthePrinciplesofDemocracy。Theprincipleofdemocracyiscorruptednotonlywhenthespiritofequalityisextinct,butlikewisewhentheyfallintoaspiritofextremeequality,andwheneachcitizenwouldfainbeuponalevelwiththosewhomhehaschosentocommandhim。Thenthepeople,incapableofbearingtheverypowertheyhavedelegated,wanttomanageeverythingthemselves,todebateforthesenate,toexecuteforthemagistrate,andtodecideforthejudges。
  Whenthisisthecase,virtuecannolongersubsistintherepublic。Thepeoplearedesirousofexercisingthefunctionsofthemagistrates,whoceasetoberevered。Thedeliberationsofthesenateareslighted;allrespectisthenlaidasideforthesenators,andconsequentlyforoldage。Ifthereisnomorerespectforoldage,therewillbenonepresentlyforparents;deferencetohusbandswillbelikewisethrownoff,andsubmissiontomasters。Thislicencewillsoonbecomegeneral,andthetroubleofcommandbeasfatiguingasthatofobedience。Wives,children,slaveswillshakeoffallsubjection。Nolongerwilltherebeanysuchthingasmanners,order,orvirtue。
  WefindinXenophon’sBanquetaverylivelydescriptionofarepublicinwhichthepeopleabusedtheirequality。Eachguestgivesinhisturnthereasonwhyheissatisfied。"ContentIam,"saysChamides,"becauseofmypoverty。WhenIwasrich,Iwasobligedtopaymycourttoinformers,knowingIwasmoreliabletobehurtbythemthancapableofdoingthemharm。Therepublicconstantlydemandedsomenewtaxofme;andIcouldnotdeclinepaying。SinceIhavegrownpoor,Ihaveacquiredauthority;
  nobodythreatensme;Iratherthreatenothers。IcangoorstaywhereI
  please。Therichalreadyrisefromtheirseatsandgivemetheway。Iamaking,Iwasbeforeaslave:Ipaidtaxestotherepublic,nowitmaintainsme:Iamnolongerafraidoflosing:butIhopetoacquire。"
  Thepeoplefallintothismisfortunewhenthoseinwhomtheyconfide,desirousofconcealingtheirowncorruption,endeavourtocorruptthem。
  Todisguisetheirownambition,theyspeaktothemonlyofthegrandeurofthestate;toconcealtheirownavarice,theyincessantlyflattertheirs。
  Thecorruptionwillincreaseamongthecorruptors,andlikewiseamongthosewhoarealreadycorrupted。Thepeoplewilldividethepublicmoneyamongthemselves,and,havingaddedtheadministrationofaffairstotheirindolence,willbeforblendingtheirpovertywiththeamusementsofluxury。Butwiththeirindolenceandluxury,nothingbutthepublictreasurewillbeabletosatisfytheirdemands。
  Wemustnotbesurprisedtoseetheirsuffragesgivenformoney。Itisimpossibletomakegreatlargessestothepeoplewithoutgreatextortion:andtocompassthis,thestatemustbesubverted。Thegreatertheadvantagestheyseemtoderivefromtheirliberty,thenearertheyapproachtowardsthecriticalmomentoflosingit。Pettytyrantsarisewhohaveallthevicesofasingletyrant。Thesmallremainsoflibertysoonbecomeinsupportable;asingletyrantstartsup,andthepeoplearestrippedofeverything,evenoftheprofitsoftheircorruption。
  Democracyhas,therefore,twoexcessestoavoid——thespiritofinequality,whichleadstoaristocracyormonarchy,andthespiritofextremeequality,whichleadstodespoticpower,asthelatteriscompletedbyconquest。
  TrueitisthatthosewhocorruptedtheGreekrepublicsdidnotalwaysbecometyrants。Thiswasbecausetheyhadagreaterpassionforeloquencethanforthemilitaryart。BesidestherereignedanimplacablehatredinthebreastsoftheGreeksagainstthosewhosubvertedarepublicangovernment;andforthisreasonanarchydegeneratedintoannihilation,insteadofbeingchangedintotyranny。
  ButSyracusebeingsituatedinthemidstofagreatnumberofpettystates,whosegovernmenthadbeenchangedfromoligarchytotyranny,[1]
  andbeinggovernedbyasenate[2]scarcelyevermentionedinhistory,underwentsuchmiseriesasaretheconsequenceofamorethanordinarycorruption。Thiscity,everapreytolicentiousness[3]oroppression,equallylabouringunderthesuddenandalternatesuccessionoflibertyandservitude,andnotwithstandingherexternalstrength,constantlydeterminedtoarevolutionbytheleastforeignpower——thiscity,I
  say,hadinherbosomanimmensemultitudeofpeople,whosefateitwastohavealwaysthiscruelalternative,eitherofchoosingatyranttogovernthem,orofactingthetyrantthemselves。
  3。OftheSpiritofextremeEquality。Asdistantasheavenisfromearth,soisthetruespiritofequalityfromthatofextremeequality。
  Theformerdoesnotimplythateverybodyshouldcommand,orthatnooneshouldbecommanded,butthatweobeyorcommandourequals。Itendeavoursnottoshakeofftheauthorityofamaster,butthatitsmastersshouldbenonebutitsequals。
  Inthestateofnature,indeed,allmenarebornequal,buttheycannotcontinueinthisequality。Societymakesthemloseit,andtheyrecoveritonlybytheprotectionofthelaws。
  Suchisthedifferencebetweenawell—regulateddemocracyandonethatisnotso,thatintheformermenareequalonlyascitizens,butinthelattertheyareequalalsoasmagistrates,assenators,asjudges,asfathers,ashusbands,orasmasters。
  Thenaturalplaceofvirtueisneartoliberty;butitisnotnearertoexcessivelibertythantoservitude。
  4。ParticularCauseoftheCorruptionofthePeople。Greatsuccess,especiallywhenchieflyowingtothepeople,intoxicatesthemtosuchadegreethatitisimpossibletocontainthemwithinbounds。Jealousoftheirmagistrates,theysoonbecamejealouslikewiseofthemagistracy;
  enemiestothosewhogovern,theysoonproveenemiesalsototheconstitution。ThusitwasthatthevictoryoverthePersiansinthestraitsofSalamiscorruptedtherepublicofAthens;[4]andthusthedefeatoftheAtheniansruinedtherepublicofSyracuse。[5]
  Marseillesneverexperiencedthosegreattransitionsfromlownesstograndeur;thiswasowingtotheprudentconductofthatrepublic,whichalwayspreservedherprinciples。
  5。OftheCorruptionofthePrincipleofAristocracy。Aristocracyiscorruptedifthepowerofthenoblesbecomesarbitrary:whenthisisthecase,therecannolongerbeanyvirtueeitherinthegovernorsorthegoverned。
  Ifthereigningfamiliesobservethelaws,itisamonarchywithseveralmonarchs,andinitsownnatureoneofthemostexcellent;foralmostallthesemonarchsaretieddownbythelaws。Butwhentheydonotobservethem,itisadespoticstateswayedbyagreatmanydespoticprinces。
  Inthelattercase,therepublicconsistsonlyinthenobles。Thebodygoverningistherepublic;andthebodygovernedisthedespoticstate;
  whichformstwoofthemostheterogeneousbodiesintheworld。
  Theextremityofcorruptioniswhenthepowerofthenoblesbecomeshereditary;[6]forthentheycanhardlyhaveanymoderation。Iftheyareonlyafew,theirpowerisgreater,buttheirsecurityless:iftheyarealargernumber,theirpowerisless,andtheirsecuritygreater,insomuchthatpowergoesonincreasing,andsecuritydiminishing,uptotheverydespoticprincewhoisencircledwithexcessofpoweranddanger。
  Thegreatnumber,therefore,ofnoblesinanhereditaryaristocracyrendersthegovernmentlessviolent:butasthereislessvirtue,theyfallintoaspiritofsupinenessandnegligence,bywhichthestatelosesallitsstrengthandactivity。[7]
  Anaristocracymaymaintainthefullvigourofitsconstitutionifthelawsbesuchasareapttorenderthenoblesmoresensibleoftheperilsandfatiguesthanofthepleasureofcommand:andifthegovernmentbeinsuchasituationastohavesomethingtodread,whilesecuritysheltersunderitsprotection,anduncertaintythreatensfromabroad。
  Asacertainkindofconfidenceformsthegloryandstabilityofmonarchies,republics,onthecontrary,musthavesomethingtoapprehend。[8]AfearofthePersianssupportedthelawsofGreece。
  CarthageandRomewerealarmed,andstrengthenedbyeachother。Strange,thatthegreatersecuritythosestatesenjoyed,themore,likestagnatedwaters,theyweresubjecttocorruption!
  6。OftheCorruptionofthePrincipleofMonarchy。Asdemocraciesaresubvertedwhenthepeopledespoilthesenate,themagistrates,thejudgesoftheirfunctions,somonarchiesarecorruptedwhentheprinceinsensiblydeprivessocietiesorcitiesoftheirprivileges。Intheformercasethemultitudeusurpthepower,inthelatteritisusurpedbyasingleperson。
  "ThedestructionofthedynastiesofTsinandSoui,"saysaChineseauthor,"wasowingtothis:theprinces,insteadofconfiningthemselves,liketheirancestors,toageneralinspection,theonlyoneworthyofasovereign,wantedtogoverneverythingimmediatelybythemselves。"[9]TheChineseauthorgivesusinthisinstancethecauseofthecorruptionofalmostallmonarchies。
  Monarchyisdestroyedwhenaprincethinksheshowsagreaterexertionofpowerinchangingthaninconformingtotheorderofthings;whenhedeprivessomeofhissubjectsoftheirhereditaryemploymentstobestowthemarbitrarilyuponothers;andwhenheisfonderofbeingguidedbyfancythanjudgment。
  Again,itisdestroyedwhentheprince,directingeverythingentirelytohimself,callsthestatetohiscapital,thecapitaltohiscourt,andthecourttohisownperson。
  Itisdestroyed,infine,whentheprincemistakeshisauthority,hissituationandtheloveofhispeople,andwhenheisnotfullypersuadedthatamonarchoughttothinkhimselfsecure,asadespoticprinceoughttothinkhimselfindanger。
  7。ThesameSubjectcontinued。Theprincipleofmonarchyiscorruptedwhenthefirstdignitiesaremarksofthefirstservitude,whenthegreatmenaredeprivedofpublicrespect,andrenderedthelowtoolsofarbitrarypower。
  Itisstillmorecorruptedwhenhonourissetupincontradictiontohonours,andwhenmenarecapableofbeingloadedattheverysametimewithinfamy[10]andwithdignities。
  Itiscorruptedwhentheprincechangeshisjusticeintoseverity;whenheputs,liketheRomanemperors,aMedusa’sheadonhisbreast;[11]andwhenheassumesthatmenacingandterribleairwhichCommodusorderedtobegiventohisstatues。[12]