BookXXIX。OftheMannerofComposingLaws1。OftheSpiritofaLegislator。Isayit，andmethinksIhaveundertakenthisworkwithnootherviewthantoproveit，thespiritofalegislatoroughttobethatofmoderation；political，likemoralgood，lyingalwaysbetweentwoextremes。[1]Letusproduceanexample。
　　Thesetformsofjusticearenecessarytoliberty，butthenumberofthemmightbesogreatastobecontrarytotheendoftheverylawsthatestablishedthem；processeswouldhavenoend；propertywouldbeuncertain；thegoodsofoneofthepartieswouldbeadjudgedtotheotherwithoutexamining，ortheywouldbothberuinedbyexaminingtoomuch。
　　Thecitizenswouldlosetheirlibertyandsecurity，theaccuserswouldnolongerhaveanymeanstoconvict，northeaccusedtojustifythemselves。
　　2。ThesameSubjectcontinued。Cecilius，inAulusGellius，[2]speakingofthelawoftheTwelveTableswhichpermittedthecreditortocuttheinsolventdebtorintopieces，justifiesitevenbyitscruelty，whichhinderedpeoplefromborrowingbeyondtheirabilityofpaying。[3]Shallthenthecruellestlawsbethebest？Shallgoodnessconsistinexcess，andalltherelationsofthingsbedestroyed？
　　3。ThattheLawswhichseemtodeviatefromtheViewsoftheLegislatorarefrequentlyagreeabletothem。ThelawofSolonwhichdeclaredthosepersonsinfamouswhoespousednosideinaninsurrectionseemedveryextraordinary；butweoughttoconsiderthecircumstancesinwhichGreecewasatthattime。Itwasdividedintoverysmallstates；andtherewasreasontoapprehendlestinarepublictornbyintestinedivisionsthesoberestpartshouldkeepretired，inconsequenceofwhichthingsmightbecarriedtoextremity。
　　Intheseditionsraisedinthosepettystatesthebulkofthecitizenseithermadeorengagedinthequarrel。Inourlargemonarchiespartiesareformedbyafew，andthepeoplechoosetolivequietly，Inthelattercaseitisnaturaltocallbacktheseditioustothebulkofthecitizens，andnotthesetotheseditious；intheotheritisnecessarytoobligethesmallnumberofprudentpeopletoenteramongtheseditious；itisthusthefermentationofoneliquormaybestoppedbyasingledropofanother。
　　4。OftheLawscontrarytotheViewsoftheLegislator。Therearelawssolittleunderstoodbythelegislatorastobecontrarytotheveryendheproposed。ThosewhomadethisregulationamongtheFrench，thatwhenoneofthetwocompetitorsdiedthebeneficeshoulddevolvetothesurvivor，hadinview，withoutdoubt，theextinctionofquarrels；buttheveryreversefallsout；weseetheclergyatvarianceeveryday，andlikeEnglishmastiffsworryingoneanothertodeath。
　　5。ThesameSubjectcontinued。ThelawIamgoingtospeakofistobefoundinthisoathpreservedby？schines：[4]"IswearthatIwillneverdestroyatownoftheAmphictyones，andthatIwillnotdivertthecourseofitsrunningwaters；ifanynationshallpresumetodosuchathing，Iwilldeclarewaragainstthemandwilldestroytheirtowns。"
　　Thelastarticleofthislaw，whichseemstoconfirmthefirst，isreallycontrarytoit。AmphictyoniswillingthattheGreektownsshouldneverbedestroyed，andyethislawpavesthewayfortheirdestruction。
　　InordertoestablishaproperlawofnationsamongtheGreeks，theyoughttohavebeenaccustomedearlytothinkitabarbarousthingtodestroyaGreektown；consequentlytheyoughtnoteventoruinthedestroyers。Amphictyon’slawwasjust，butitwasnotprudent；thisappearsevenfromtheabusemadeofit。DidnotPhilipassumethepowerofdemolishingtowns，underthepretenceoftheirhavinginfringedthelawsoftheGreeks？Amphictyonmighthaveinflictedotherpunishments；
　　hemighthaveordained，forexample，thatacertainnumberofthemagistratesofthedestroyingtown，orofthechiefsoftheinfringingarmy，shouldbepunishedwithdeath；thatthedestroyingnationshouldceaseforawhiletoenjoytheprivilegesoftheGreeks；thattheyshouldpayafinetillthetownwasrebuilt。Thelawought，aboveallthings，toaimatthereparationofdamages。
　　6。TheLawswhichappearthesamehavenotalwaysthesameEffect。C？sarmadealawtoprohibitpeoplefromkeepingabovesixtysestercesintheirhouses。[5]ThislawwasconsideredatRomeasextremelyproperforreconcilingthedebtorstotheircreditors，because，byobligingtherichtolendtothepoor，theyenabledthelattertopaytheirdebts。A
　　lawofthesamenaturemadeinFranceatthetimeoftheSystemprovedextremelyfatal，becauseitwasenactedunderamostfrightfulsituation。Afterdeprivingpeopleofallpossiblemeansoflayingouttheirmoney，theystrippedthemevenofthelastresourceofkeepingitathome，whichwasthesameastakingitfromthembyopenviolence。
　　C？sar’slawwasintendedtomakethemoneycirculate；theFrenchminister’sdesignwastodrawallthemoneyintoonehand。Theformergaveeitherlandsormortgagesonprivatepeopleforthemoney；thelatterproposedinlieuofmoneynothingbuteffectswhichwereofnovalue，andcouldhavenonebytheirverynature，becausethelawcompelledpeopletoacceptofthem。
　　7。ThesameSubjectcontinued。NecessityofcomposingLawsinaproperManner。ThelawofostracismwasestablishedatAthens，atArgos，[6]andatSyracuse。AtSyracuseitwasproductiveofathousandmischiefs，becauseitwasimprudentlyenacted。Theprincipalcitizensbanishedoneanotherbyholdingtheleafofafig—treeintheirhands，sothatthosewhohadanykindofmeritwithdrewfrompublicaffairs。[7]AtAthens，wherethelegislatorwassensibleoftheproperextentandlimitsofhislaw，ostracismprovedanadmirableregulation。Theynevercondemnedmorethanonepersonatatime；andsuchanumberofsuffrageswererequisiteforpassingthissentencethatitwasextremelydifficultforthemtobanishapersonwhoseabsencewasnotnecessarytothestate。[8]
　　Thepowerofbanishingwasexercisedonlyeveryfifthyear：andindeed，astheostracismwasdesignedagainstnonebutgreatpersonageswhothreatenedthestatewithdanger，itoughtnottohavebeenthetransactionofeveryday。
　　8。ThatLawswhichappearthesamewerenotalwaysmadethroughthesameMotive。InFrancetheyhavereceivedmostoftheRomanlawsonsubstitutions，butthroughquiteadifferentmotivefromtheRomans。
　　Amongthelattertheinheritancewasaccompaniedwithcertainsacrifices[9]whichweretobeperformedbytheinheritorandwereregulatedbythepontificallaw；henceitwasthattheyreckoneditadishonourtodiewithoutheirs，thattheymadeslavestheirheirs，andthattheydevisedsubstitutions。Ofthiswehaveaverystrongproofinthevulgarsubstitution，whichwasthefirstinvented，andtookplaceonlywhentheheirappointeddidnotacceptoftheinheritance。Itsviewwasnottoperpetuatetheestateinafamilyofthesamename，buttofindsomebodythatwouldacceptofit。
　　9。ThattheGreekandRomanLawspunishedSuicide，butnotthroughthesameMotive。Aman，saysPlato，whohaskilledonenearlyrelatedtohim，thatis，himself，notbyanorderofthemagistrate，nottoavoidignominy，butthroughpusillanimityshallbepunished。[10]TheRomanlawpunishedthisactionwhenitwasnotcommittedthroughpusillanimity，throughwearinessoflife，throughimpatienceinpain，butfromacriminaldespair。TheRomanlawacquittedwheretheGreekcondemned，andcondemnedwheretheotheracquitted。
　　Plato’slawwasformedupontheLaced？monianinstitutions，wheretheordersofthemagistratewereabsolute，whereshamewasthegreatestofmiseries，andpusillanimitythegreatestofcrimes。TheRomanshadnolongerthoserefinedideas；theirswasonlyafiscallaw。
　　Duringthetimeoftherepublic，therewasnolawatRomeagainstsuicides；thisactionisalwaysconsideredbytheirhistoriansinafavourablelight，andwenevermeetwithanypunishmentinflicteduponthosewhocommittedit。
　　Underthefirstemperors，thegreatfamiliesofRomewerecontinuallydestroyedbycriminalprosecutions。Thecustomwasthenintroducedofpreventingjudgmentbyavoluntarydeath。Inthistheyfoundagreatadvantage：theyhadanhonourableinterment，andtheirwillswereexecuted，becausetherewasnolawagainstsuicides。[11]Butwhentheemperorsbecameasavariciousascruel，theydeprivedthosewhodestroyedthemselvesofthemeansofpreservingtheirestatesbyrenderingitcriminalforapersontomakeawaywithhimselfthroughacriminalremorse。
　　WhatIhavebeensayingofthemotiveoftheemperorsissotrue，thattheyconsentedthattheestatesofsuicidesshouldnotbeconfiscatedwhenthecrimeforwhichtheykilledthemselveswasnotpunishedwithconfiscation。[12]
　　10。ThatLawswhichseemcontraryproceedsometimesfromthesameSpirit。Inourtimewegivesummonstopeopleintheirownhouses；butthiswasnotpermittedamongtheRomans。[13]
　　Asummonswasaviolentaction，[14]andakindofwarrantforseizingthebody；[15]henceitwasnomoreallowedtosummonapersoninhisownhousethanitisnowallowedtoarrestapersoninhisownhousefordebt。
　　BoththeRomanandourlawsadmitofthisprinciplealike，thateverymanoughttohavehisownhouseforanasylum，whereheshouldsuffernoviolence。[16]
　　11。HowtocomparetwodifferentSystemsofLaws。InFrancethepunishmentforfalsewitnessesiscapital；inEnglanditisnot。Now，tobeabletojudgewhichofthesetwolawsisthebest，wemustaddthatinFrancetherackisusedforcriminals，butnotinEngland；thatinFrancetheaccusedisnotallowedtoproducehiswitnesses，andthattheyveryseldomadmitofwhatarecalledjustifyingcircumstancesinfavouroftheprisoner；inEnglandtheyallowofwitnessesonbothsides。ThesethreeFrenchlawsformacloseandwell—connectedsystem；
　　andsodothethreeEnglishlaws。ThelawofEngland，whichdoesnotallowoftherackingofcriminals，hasbutverylittlehopeofdrawingfromtheaccusedaconfessionofhiscrime；forthisreasonitinviteswitnessesfromallparts，anddoesnotventuretodiscouragethembythefearofacapitalpunishment。TheFrenchlaw，whichhasoneresourcemore，isnotafraidofintimidatingthewitnesses；onthecontrary，reasonrequirestheyshouldbeintimidated；itlistensonlytothewitnessesononeside，whicharethoseproducedbytheattorney—general，andthefateoftheaccuseddependsentirelyontheirtestimony。[17]ButinEnglandtheyadmitofwitnessesonbothsides，andtheaffairisdiscussedinsomemeasurebetweenthem；consequentlyfalsewitnessistherelessdangerous，theaccusedhavingaremedyagainstthefalsewitnesswhichhehasnotinFrance。Wherefore，todeterminewhichofthosesystemsismostagreeabletoreason，wemusttakethemeachasawholeandcomparethemintheirentirety。
　　12。ThatLawswhichappearthesamearesometimesreallydifferent。TheGreekandRomanlawsinflictedthesamepunishmentonthereceiverasonthethief；[18]theFrenchlawdoesthesame。Theformeractedrationally，butthelatterdoesnot。AmongtheGreeksandRomansthethiefwascondemnedtoapecuniarypunishment，whichoughtalsotobeinflictedonthereceiver；foreverymanthatcontributesinwhatshapesoevertoadamageisobligedtorepairit。Butasthepunishmentoftheftiscapitalwithus，thereceivercannotbepunishedlikethethiefwithoutcarryingthingstoexcess。Areceivermayactinnocentlyonathousandoccasions：thethiefisalwaysculpable；onehinderstheconvictionofacrime，theothercommitsit；inonethewholeispassive，theotherisactive；thethiefmustsurmountmoreobstacles，andhissoulmustbemorehardenedagainstthelaws。
　　Thecivilianshavegonefurther；theylookuponthereceiverasmoreodiousthanthethief，[19]forwereitnotforthereceiverthetheft，saythey，couldnotbelongconcealed。Butthisagainmightberightwhentherewasonlyapecuniarypunishment；theaffairinquestionwasadamagedone，andthereceiverwasgenerallybetterabletorepairit；
　　butwhenthepunishmentbecamecapital，theyoughttohavebeendirectedbyotherprinciples。
　　13。ThatwemustnotseparateLawsfromtheEndforwhichtheyweremade：oftheRomanLawsonTheft。Whenathiefwascaughtintheact，thiswascalledbytheRomansamanifesttheft；whenhewasnotdetectedtillsometimeafterwards，itwasanon—manifesttheft。
　　ThelawoftheTwelveTablesordainedthatamanifestthiefshouldbewhippedwithrodsandcondemnedtoslaveryifhehadattainedtheageofpuberty；oronlywhippedifhewasnotofripeage；butasforthenonmanifestthief，hewasonlycondemnedtoafineofdoublethevalueofwhathehadstolen。
　　WhenthePorcianlawsabolishedthecustomofwhippingthecitizenswithrods，andofreducingthemtoslavery，themanifestthiefwascondemnedtoapaymentoffourfold，andtheystillcontinuedtocondemnthenon—manifestthieftoapaymentofdouble。[20]
　　Itseemsveryoddthattheselawsshouldmakesuchadifferenceinthequalityofthosetwocrimes，andinthepunishmentstheyinflicted。And，indeed，whetherthethiefwasdetectedeitherbeforeorafterhehadcarriedthestolengoodstotheplaceintended，thiswasacircumstancewhichdidnotalterthenatureofthecrime。IdonotatallquestionthatthewholetheoryoftheRomanlawsinrelationtotheftwasborrowedfromtheLaced？monianinstitutions。Lycurgus，withaviewofrenderingthecitizensdextrousandcunning，ordainedthatchildrenshouldbepractisedinthieving，andthatthosewhowerecaughtintheactshouldbeseverelywhipped。ThisoccasionedamongtheGreeks，andafterwardsamongtheRomans，agreatdifferencebetweenamanifestandanon—manifesttheft。[21]
　　AmongtheRomans，aslavewhohadbeenguiltyofstealingwasthrownfromtheTarpeianrock。HeretheLaced？monianinstitutionswereoutofthequestion；thelawsofLycurgusinrelationtotheftwerenotmadeforslaves；todeviatefromtheminthisrespectwasinrealityconformingtothem。
　　AtRome，whenapersonofunripeagehappenedtobecaughtintheact，thepr？tororderedhimtobewhippedwithrodsaccordingtohispleasure，aswaspractisedatSparta。Allthishadamoreremoteorigin。
　　TheLaced？monianshadderivedtheseusagesfromtheCretans；andPlato，[22]whowantstoprovethattheCretaninstitutionsweredesignedforwar，citesthefollowing，namely，thepowerofbearingpaininindividualcombats，andintheftswhichhavetobeconcealed。
　　Asthecivillawsdependonthepoliticalinstitutions，becausetheyaremadeforthesamesociety，wheneverthereisadesignofadoptingthecivillawofanothernation，itwouldbepropertoexaminebeforehandwhethertheyhaveboththesameinstitutionsandthesamepoliticallaw。
　　ThuswhentheCretanlawsontheftwereadoptedbytheLaced？monians，astheirconstitutionandgovernmentwereadoptedatthesametime，theselawswereequallyreasonableinbothnations。ButwhentheywerecarriedfromLaced？montoRome，astheydidnotfindtherethesameconstitution，theywerealwaysthoughtstrange，andhadnomannerofconnectionwiththeothercivillawsoftheRomans。
　　14。ThatwemustnotseparatetheLawsfromtheCircumstancesinwhichtheyweremade。ItwasdecreedbyalawatAthensthatwhenthecitywasbesieged，alltheuselesspeopleshouldbeputtodeath。[23]Thiswasanabominablepoliticallaw，inconsequenceofanabominablelawofnations。AmongtheGreeks，theinhabitantsofatowntakenlosttheircivillibertyandweresoldasslaves。Thetakingofatownimplieditsentiredestruction，whichisthesourcenotonlyofthoseobstinatedefences，andofthoseunnaturalactions，butlikewiseofthoseshockinglawswhichtheysometimesenacted。
　　TheRomanlawsordainedthatphysiciansshouldbepunishedforneglectorunskilfulness。[24]Inthosecases，ifthephysicianwasapersonofanyfortuneorrank，hewasonlycondemnedtodeportation，butifhewasofalowconditionhewasputtodeath。Byourinstitutionsitisotherwise。TheRomanlawswerenotmadeunderthesamecircumstancesasours：atRomeeveryignorantpretenderintermeddledwithphysic；butamongus，physiciansareobligedtogothrougharegularcourseofstudy，andtotaketheirdegrees，forwhichreasontheyaresupposedtounderstandtheirprofession。
　　15。ThatsometimesitispropertheLawshouldamenditself。ThelawoftheTwelveTablesallowedpeopletokillanight—thiefaswellasaday—thief，[25]ifuponbeingpursuedheattemptedtomakeadefence；butitrequiredthatthepersonwhokilledthethiefshouldcryoutandcallhisfellow—citizens。Thisisindeedwhatthoselaws，whichpermitpeopletodojusticetothemselves，oughtalwaystorequire。Itisthecryofinnocencewhichintheverymomentoftheactioncallsinwitnessesandappealstojudges。Thepeopleoughttotakecognizanceoftheaction，andattheveryinstantofitsbeingdone；aninstantwheneverythingspeaks，evenair，countenance，passions，silence；andwheneverywordeithercondemnsorabsolves。Alawwhichmaybecomesoopposedtothesecurityandlibertyofthecitizensoughttobeexecutedintheirpresence。[26]
　　16。ThingstobeobservedinthecomposingofLaws。Theywhohaveageniussufficienttoenablethemtogivelawstotheirown，ortoanothernation，oughttobeparticularlyattentivetothemannerofformingthem。
　　Thestyleoughttobeconcise。ThelawsoftheTwelveTablesareamodelofconciseness；theverychildrenusedtolearnthembyheart。[27]
　　Justinian’sNovell？weresoverydiffusethattheywereobligedtoabridgethem。[28]
　　Thestyleshouldalsobeplainandsimple，adirectexpressionbeingbetterunderstoodthananindirectone。Thereisnomajestyatallinthelawsofthelowerempire；princesaremadetospeaklikerhetoricians。Whenthestyleoflawsisinflated，theyarelookedupononlyasaworkofparadeandostentation。
　　Itisanessentialarticlethatthewordsofthelawsshouldexciteineverybodythesameideas。CardinalRichelieu[29]agreedthataministermightbeaccusedbeforetheking，buthewouldhavetheaccuserpunishedifthefactsheprovedwerenotmattersofmoment。Thiswasenoughtohinderpeoplefromtellinganytruthwhatsoeveragainsttheminister，becauseamatterofmomentisentirelyrelative，andwhatmaybeofmomenttooneisnotsotoanother。
　　ThelawofHonoriuspunishedwithdeathanypersonthatpurchasedafreedmanasaslave，orthatgavehimmolestation。[30]Heshouldnothavemadeuseofsovagueanexpression；themolestationgivenamandependsentirelyonthedegreeofhissensibility。
　　Whenthelawhastoimposeapenalty，itshouldavoidasmuchaspossibletheestimatingitinmoney。Thevalueofmoneychangesfromathousandcauses，andthesamedenominationcontinueswithoutthesamething。EveryoneknowsthestoryofthatimpudentfellowatRome[31]whousedtogivethosehemetaboxontheear，andafterwardstenderedthemthefive—and—twentypenceofthelawoftheTwelveTables。
　　Whenthelawhasoncefixedtheideaofthings，itshouldneverreturntovagueexpressions。TheordinanceofLouisXIV[32]concerningcriminalmatters，afteranexactenumerationofthecausesinwhichthekingisimmediatelyconcerned，addsthesewords，"andthosewhichinalltimeshavebeensubjecttothedeterminationoftheking’sjudges"；thisagainrendersarbitrarywhathadjustbeenfixed。CharlesVIIsays[33]hehasbeeninformedthatthepartiesappealthree，four，andsixmonthsafterjudgment，contrarytothecustomofthekingdominacountrywherecustomprevailed；hethereforeordainsthattheyshallappealforthwith，unlesstherehappenstobesomefraudordeceitonthepartoftheattorney，[34]orunlesstherebeagreatorevidentcausetodischargetheappeal。Theendofthislawdestroysthebeginning，anditdestroysitsoeffectually，thattheyusedafterwardstoappealduringthespaceofthirtyyears。[35]
　　ThelawoftheLombardsdoesnotallowawomanthathastakenareligioushabit，[36]thoughshehasmadenovow，tomarry；because，saysthislaw，"ifaspousewhohasbeencontractedtoawomanonlybyaringcannotwithoutguiltbemarriedtoanother，foramuchstrongerreasonthespouseofGodoroftheblessedVirgin。"Now，Isay，thatinlawstheargumentsshouldbedrawnfromonerealitytoanother，andnotfromrealitytofigure，orfromfiguretoreality。
　　AlawenactedbyConstantine[37]ordainsthatthesingletestimonyofabishopshouldbesufficientwithoutlisteningtoanyotherwitnesses。
　　Thisprincetookaveryshortmethod；hejudgedofaffairsbypersons，andofpersonsbydignities。
　　Thelawsoughtnottobesubtle；theyaredesignedforpeopleofcommonunderstanding，notasanartoflogic，butastheplainreasonofafatherofafamily。
　　Whenthereisnonecessityforexceptionsandlimitationsinalaw，itismuchbettertoomitthem：detailsofthatkindthrowpeopleintonewdetails。
　　Noalterationshouldbemadeinalawwithoutsufficientreason。
　　Justinianordainedthatahusbandmightberepudiatedandyetthewifenotloseherportion，ifforthespaceoftwoyearshehadbeenincapableofconsummatingthemarriage。[38]Healteredhislawafterwards，andallowedthepoorwretchthreeyears。[39]Butinacaseofthatnaturetwoyearsareasgoodasthree，andthreearenotworthmorethantwo。
　　Whenalegislatorcondescendstogivethereasonofhislawitoughttobeworthyofitsmajesty。ARomanlawdecreesthatablindmanisincapabletoplead，becausehecannotseetheornamentsofthemagistracy。[40]Sobadareasonmusthavebeengivenonpurpose，whensuchanumberofgoodreasonswereathand。
　　Paul，thejurist，says[41]thatachildgrowsperfectintheseventhmonth，andthattheratioofPythagoras’numbersseemstoproveit。ItisveryextraordinarythattheyshouldjudgeofthosethingsbytheratioofPythagoras’numbers。
　　SomeFrenchlawyershaveassertedthatwhenthekingmadeanacquisitionofanewcountry，thechurchesbecamesubjecttotheRegale，becausetheking’scrownisround。Ishallnotexaminehereintotheking’srights，orwhetherinthiscasethereasonofthecivilorecclesiasticlawoughttosubmittothatofthelawofpolitics；Ishallonlysaythatthoseaugustrightsoughttobedefendedbygravemaxims。Wasthereeversuchathingknownastherealrightsofadignityfoundedonthefigureofthatdignity’ssign？
　　Davilasays[42]thatCharlesIXwasdeclaredofageintheparliamentofRouenatthecommencementofhisfourteenthyear，becausethelawsrequireeverymomentofthetimetobereckoned，incasesrelatingtotherestitutionandadministrationofaward’sestate；whereasitconsiderstheyearcommencedasayearcomplete，whenthecaseisconcerningtheacquisitionofhonours。Iamveryfarfromcensuringaregulationwhichhasbeenhithertoattendedwithnoinconvenience；I
　　shallonlynoticethatthereasonallegedisnotthetrueone；itisfalse，thatthegovernmentofanationisonlyanhonour。
　　Inpointofpresumption，thatofthelawisfarpreferabletothatoftheman。TheFrenchlawconsiderseveryactofamerchantduringthetendaysprecedinghisbankruptcyasfraudulent：[43]thisisthepresumptionofthelaw。TheRomanlawinflictedpunishmentsonthehusbandwhokepthiswifeaftershehadbeenguiltyofadultery，unlesshewasinducedtodoitthroughfearoftheeventofalawsuit，orthroughcontemptofhisownshame；thisisthepresumptionoftheman。Thejudgemusthavepresumedthemotivesofthehusband’sconduct，andmusthavedeterminedaveryobscureandambiguouspoint；whenthelawpresumes，itgivesafixedruletothejudge。
　　Plato’slaw，[44]asIhaveobservedalready，requiredthatapunishmentshouldbeinflictedonthepersonwhokilledhimselfnotwithadesignofavoidingshame，butthroughpusillanimity。Thislawwassofardefectivethatintheonlycaseinwhichitwasimpossibletodrawfromthecriminalanacknowledgmentofthemotiveuponwhichhehadacted，itrequiredthejudgetodetermineconcerningthesemotives。
　　Asuselesslawsdebilitatesuchasarenecessary，sothosethatmaybeeasilyeludedweakenthelegislation。Everylawoughttohaveitseffect，andnooneshouldbesufferedtodeviatefromitbyaparticularexception。
　　TheFalcidianlawordainedamongtheRomans，thattheheirshouldalwayshavethefourthpartoftheinheritance；anotherlawsufferedthetestatortoprohibittheheirfromretainingthisfourthpart。[45]Thisismakingajestofthelaws。TheFalcidianlawbecameuseless：forifthetestatorhadamindtofavourhisheir，thelatterhadnoneedoftheFalcidianlaw；andifhedidnotintendtofavourhim，heforbadhimtomakeuseofit。
　　Careshouldbetakenthatthelawsbewordedinsuchamannerasnottobecontrarytotheverynatureofthings。IntheproscriptionofthePrinceofOrange，PhilipIIpromisestoanymanthatwillkilltheprincetogivehim，orhisheirs，five—and—twentythousandcrowns，togetherwiththetitleofnobility；andthisuponthewordofaking，andasaservantofGod。Topromisenobilityforsuchanaction！toordainsuchanactioninthequalityofaservantofGod！Thisisequallysubversiveoftheideasofhonour，morality，andreligion。
　　Thereveryseldomhappenstobeanecessityofprohibitingathingwhichisnotbadunderpretenceofsomeimaginaryperfection。
　　Thereoughttobeacertainsimplicityandcandourinthelaws；madetopunishtheiniquityofmen，theythemselvesshouldbecladwiththerobesofinnocence。WefindinthelawoftheVisigoths[46]thatridiculousrequest，bywhichtheJewswereobligedtoeateverythingdressedwithpork，providedtheydidnoteattheporkitself。Thiswasaverygreatcruelty：theywereobligedtosubmittoalawcontrarytotheirown；andtheywereobligedtoretainnothingmoreoftheirownthanwhatmightserveasamarktodistinguishthem。
　　17。AbadMethodofgivingLaws。TheRomanEmperorsmanifestedtheirwill，likeourprinces，bydecreesandedicts；buttheypermitted，whichourprincesdonot，boththejudgesandprivatepeopletointerrogatethembylettersintheirseveraldifferences；andtheiranswerswerecalledrescripts。Thedecretalsofthepopesarerescripts，strictlyspeaking。Itisplainthatthisisabadmethodoflegislation。Thosewhothusapplyforlawsareimproperguidestothelegislator；thefactsarealwayswronglystated。JuliusCapitolinussays[47]thatTrajanoftenrefusedtogivethiskindofrescripts，lestasingledecision，andfrequentlyaparticularfavour，shouldbeextendedtoallcases。
　　Macrinushadresolvedtoabolishallthoserescripts；[48]hecouldnotbearthattheanswersofCommodus，Caracalla，andallthoseotherignorantprinces，shouldbeconsideredaslaws。Justinianthoughtotherwise，andhefilledhiscompilationwiththem。
　　IwouldadvisethosewhoreadtheRomanlawstodistinguishcarefullybetweenthissortofhypothesis，andtheSenatusConsulta，thePlebiscita，thegeneralconstitutionsoftheemperors，andallthelawsfoundedonthenatureofthings，onthefrailtyofwomen，theweaknessofminors，andthepublicutility。
　　18。OftheIdeasofUniformity。Therearecertainideasofuniformity，whichsometimesstrikegreatgeniuses（fortheyevenaffectedCharlemagne），butinfalliblymakeanimpressiononlittlesouls。Theydiscoverthereinakindofperfection，whichtheyrecognizebecauseitisimpossibleforthemnottoseeit；thesameauthorizedweights，thesamemeasuresintrade，thesamelawsinthestate，thesamereligioninallitsparts。Butisthisalwaysrightandwithoutexception？Istheevilofchangingconstantlylessthanthatofsuffering？Anddoesnotagreatnessofgeniusconsistratherindistinguishingbetweenthosecasesinwhichuniformityisrequisite，andthoseinwhichthereisanecessityfordifferences？InChinatheChinesearegovernedbytheChineseceremonialandtheTartarsbytheirs；andyetthereisnonationintheworldthataimssomuchattranquillity。Ifthepeopleobservethelaws，whatsignifiesitwhethertheselawsarethesame？