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]