Itwillbeimagined，perhaps，thatthegovernmentoftheFranksmusthavebeenverysevereatthattime，sincethesameofficerswereinvestedwithamilitaryandcivilpower，nay，evenwithafiscalauthority，overthesubjects；whichintheprecedingbooksIhaveobservedtobedistinguishingmarksofdespotism。
　　Butwemustnotbelievethatthecountspronouncedjudgmentbythemselves，andadministeredjusticeinthesamemannerasthebashawsinTurkey；inordertojudgeaffairs，theyassembledakindofassizes，wheretheprincipalmenappeared。
　　Totheendwemaythoroughlyunderstandwhatrelatestothejudicialproceedingsintheformulas，inthelawsoftheBarbariansandinthecapitularies，itispropertoobservethatthefunctionsofthecount，oftheGrafioorfiscaljudgeandtheCentenariuswerethesame；thatthejudges，theRathimburghers，andthealdermenwerethesamepersonsunderdifferentnames。Thesewerethecount’sassistants，andweregenerallyseveninnumber；andashewasobligedtohavetwelvepersonstojudge，[127]hefilledupthenumberwiththeprincipalmen。[128]
　　Butwhoeverhadthejurisdiction，theking，thecount，theGrafio，theCentenarius，thelords，ortheclergy，theynevertriedcausesalone；
　　andthisusage，whichderiveditsoriginfromtheforestsofGermany，wasstillcontinuedevenafterthefiefshadassumedanewform。
　　Withregardtothefiscalpower，itsnaturewassuchthatthecountcouldhardlyabuseit。Therightsoftheprinceinrespecttothefreemenweresosimplethattheyconsistedonly，aswehavealreadyobserved，incertaincarriageswhichweredemandedofthemonsomepublicoccasions。[129]Andasforthejudiciaryrights，therewerelawswhichpreventedmisdemeanors。[130]
　　19。OfCompositionsamongthebarbarousNations。SinceitisimpossibletogainanyinsightintoourpoliticallawunlesswearethoroughlyacquaintedwiththelawsandmannersoftheGermannations，Ishall，therefore，pausehereawhile，inordertoinquireintothosemannersandlaws。
　　ItappearsbyTacitusthattheGermansknewonlytwocapitalcrimes；
　　theyhangedtraitors，anddrownedcowards；theseweretheonlypubliccrimesamongthatpeople。Whenamanhadinjuredanother，therelativesofthepersoninjuredtookshareinthequarrel，andtheoffencewascancelledbyasatisfaction。[131]Thissatisfactionwasmadetothepersonoffended，whencapableofreceivingit；ortotherelativesiftheyhadbeeninjuredincommon，orifbythedeceaseofthepartyaggrievedorinjuredthesatisfactionhaddevolvedtothem。
　　InthemannermentionedbyTacitus，thesesatisfactionsweremadebythemutualagreementoftheparties；henceinthecodesofthebarbarousnationsthesesatisfactionsarecalledcompositions。
　　ThelawoftheFrisians[132]istheonlyoneIfindthathasleftthepeopleinthatsituationinwhicheveryfamilyatvariancewasinsomemeasureinthestateofnature，andinwhich，beingunrestrainedeitherbyapoliticalorcivillaw，theymightgivefreedomtotheirrevengetilltheyhadobtainedsatisfaction。Eventhislawwasmoderated；aregulationwasmade[133]thatthepersonwhoselifewassoughtaftershouldbeunmolestedinhisownhouse，asalsoingoingandcomingfromchurchandthecourtwherecausesweretried。ThecompilersoftheSaliclaw[134]citeanancientusageoftheFranks，bywhichapersonwhohaddugacorpseoutoftheground，inordertostripit，shouldbebanishedfromsocietytilltherelativeshadconsentedtohisbeingre—admitted。
　　Andasbeforethattimestrictorderswereissuedtoeveryone，eventotheoffender’sownwife，nottogivehimamorselofbread，ortoreceivehimundertheirroofs，suchapersonwasinrespecttoothers，andothersinrespecttohim，inastateofsavagerytillanendwasputtothisstatebyacomposition。
　　Thisexcepted，wefindthatthesagesofthedifferentbarbarousnationsthoughtofdeterminingbythemselveswhatwouldhavebeentoolongandtoodangeroustoexpectfromthemutualagreementoftheparties。Theytookcaretofixthevalueofthecompositionwhichthepartywrongedorinjuredwastoreceive。Allthosebarbarianlawsareinthisrespectmostadmirablyexact；theseveralcasesareminutelydistinguished，[135]
　　thecircumstancesareweighed，thelawsubstitutesitselfintheplaceofthepersoninjuredandinsistsuponthesamesatisfactionashehimselfwouldhavedemandedincoldblood。
　　Bytheestablishingofthoselaws，theGermannationsquittedthatstateofnatureinwhichtheyseemedtohavelivedinTacitus’time。
　　Rotharisdeclares，inthelawoftheLombards，[136]thathehadincreasedthecompositionsallowedbyancientcustomforwounds，totheendthat，thewoundedpersonbeingfullysatisfied，allenmitiesshouldcease。AndindeedastheLombards，fromaverypoorpeoplehadgrownrichbytheconquestofItaly，theancientcompositionshadbecomefrivolous，andreconcilementsprevented。Idonotquestionbutthiswasthemotivewhichobligedtheotherchiefsoftheconqueringnationstomakethedifferentcodesoflawsnowextant。
　　Theprincipalcompositionwasthatwhichthemurdererpaidtotherelativesofthedeceased。Thedifferenceofconditionsproducedadifferenceinthecompositions。[137]ThusinthelawoftheAngli，therewasacompositionofsixhundredsousforthemurderofanadeling，twohundredforthatofafreeman，andthirtyforkillingabondman。Thelargenessthereforeofthecompositionforthelifeofamanwasoneofhischiefprivileges；forbesidesthedistinctionitmadeofhisperson，itlikewiseestablishedagreatersecurityinhisfavouramongrudeandboisterousnations。
　　ThiswearemadesensibleofbythelawoftheBavarians：[138]itgivesthenamesoftheBavarianfamilieswhoreceivedadoublecomposition，becausetheywerethefirstaftertheAgilolfings。[139]TheAgilolfingswereoftheducalrace，anditwascustomarywiththisnationtochooseadukeoutofthatfamily；thesehadaquadruplecomposition。ThecompositionforadukeexceededbyathirdthatwhichhadbeenestablishedfortheAgilolfings。"Becauseheisaduke，"saysthelaw，"agreaterhonourispaidtohimthantohisrelatives。"
　　Allthesecompositionswerevaluedinmoney。Butasthosepeople，especiallywhentheylivedinGermany，hadverylittlespecie，theymightpayitincattle，corn，movables，arms，dogs，hawks，lands，&c。[140]Thelawitselffrequentlydeterminedthevalueofthosethings；
　　whichexplainshowitwaspossibleforthemtohavesuchanumberofpecuniarypunishmentswithsoverylittlemoney。[141]
　　Theselawswerethereforeemployedinexactlydeterminingthedifferenceofwrongs，injuriesandcrimes；totheendthateveryonemightknowhowfarhehadbeeninjuredoroffended，thereparationhewastoreceive，andespeciallythathewastoreceivenomore。
　　Inthislightitiseasytoconceivethatapersonwhohadtakenrevengeafterhavingreceivedsatisfactionwasguiltyofaheinouscrime。Thiscontainedapublicaswellasaprivateoffence；itwasacontemptofthelawofitself；acrimewhichthelegislatorsneverfailedtopunish。[142]
　　Therewasanothercrimewhichaboveallotherswasconsideredasdangerous，whenthosepeoplelostsomethingoftheirspiritofindependence，andwhenthekingsendeavouredtoestablishabetterciviladministration；thiswastherefusingtogiveortoreceivesatisfaction。[143]WefindinthedifferentcodesofthelawsoftheBarbariansthatthelegislatorswereperemptoryonthisarticle。[144]Ineffect，apersonwhorefusedtoreceivesatisfactionwantedtopreservehisrightofprosecution；hewhorefusedtogiveitlefttherightofprosecutiontothepersoninjured；andthisiswhatthesageshadreformedintheinstitutionsoftheGermans，wherebypeoplewereincitedbutnotcompelledtocompositions。
　　IhavejustnowmadementionofatextoftheSaliclaw，inwhichthelegislatorleftthepartyoffendedatlibertytoreceiveortorefusesatisfaction；itisthelawbywhichapersonwhohadstrippedadeadbodywasexpelledfromsocietytilltherelativesuponreceivingsatisfactionpetitionedforhisbeingre—admitted。[145]ItwasowingtotherespecttheyhadforsacredthingsthatthecompilersoftheSaliclawsdidnotmeddlewiththeancientusage。
　　Itwouldhavebeenabsolutelyunjusttograntacompositiontotherelativesofarobberkilledintheact，ortotherelativesofawomanwhohadbeenrepudiatedforthecrimeofadultery。ThelawoftheBavariansallowednocompositionsinthelikecases，butpunishedtherelativeswhosoughtrevenge。[146]
　　ItisnorarethingtomeetwithcompositionsforinvoluntaryactionsinthecodesofthelawsoftheBarbarians。ThelawoftheLombardsisgenerallyveryprudent；itordained[147]thatinthosecasesthecompositionsshouldbeaccordingtotheperson’sgenerosity；andthattherelativesshouldnolongerbepermittedtopursuetheirrevenge。
　　ClothariusIImadeaverywisedecree；heforbadthepersonrobbedtoreceiveanyclandestinecomposition，andwithoutanorderfromthejudge。[148]Weshallpresentlyseethemotiveofthislaw。
　　20。OfwhatwasafterwardscalledtheJurisdictionoftheLords。Besidesthecompositionwhichtheywereobligedtopaytotherelativesformurdersorinjuries，theywerealsounderanecessityofpayingacertaindutywhichthecodesofthebarbarianlawscalledfredum。[149]I
　　intendtotreatofitatlarge；andinordertogiveanideaofit，I
　　beginwithdefiningitasarecompensefortheprotectiongrantedagainsttherightofvengeance。Eventothisday，fredintheSwedishlanguagesignifiespeace。
　　Theadministrationofjusticeamongthoserudeandunpolishednationswasnothingmorethangrantingtothepersonwhohadcommittedanoffenceaprotectionagainstthevengeanceofthepartyoffended，andobligingthelattertoacceptofthesatisfactionduetohim：insomuchthatamongtheGermans，contrarytothepracticeofallothernations，justicewasadministeredinordertoprotectthecriminalagainstthepartyinjured。
　　ThecodesoftheBarbarianlawshavegivenusthecasesinwhichthefredamightbedemanded。Whentherelativescouldnotprosecute，theyallowedofnofredum；andindeed，whentherewasnoprosecutiontherecouldbenocompositionforaprotectionagainstit。Thus，inthelawoftheLombards，[150]ifapersonhappenedtokillafreemanbyaccident，hepaidthevalueofthemankilled，withoutthefredum；because，ashehadkilledhiminvoluntarily，itwasnotthecaseinwhichtherelativeswereallowedtherightofprosecution。ThusinthelawoftheRipuarians，[151]whenapersonwaskilledwithapieceofwood，orwithanyinstrumentmadebyman，theinstrumentorthewoodweredeemedculpable，andtherelativesseizeduponthemfortheirownuse，butwerenotallowedtodemandthefredum。
　　Inlikemanner，whenabeasthappenedtokillaman，thesamelawestablishedacompositionwithoutthefredum，becausetherelativesofthedeceasedwerenotoffended。[152]
　　Infine，itwasordainedbytheSaliclaw，[153]thatachildwhohadcommittedafaultbeforetheageoftwelveshouldpaythecompositionwithoutthefredum：ashewasnotyetabletobeararms，hecouldnotbeinthecaseinwhichthepartyinjured，orhisrelatives，hadarighttodemandsatisfaction。
　　Itwasthecriminalthatpaidthefredumforthepeaceandsecurityofwhichhehadbeendeprivedbyhiscrime，andwhichhemightrecoverbyprotection。Butachilddidnotlosethissecurity；hewasnotaman，andconsequentlycouldnotbeexpelledfromhumansociety。
　　Thisfredumwasalocalrightinfavourofthepersonwhowasjudgeofthedistrict。[154]YetthelawoftheRipuarians[155]forbadehimtodemandithimself：itordainedthatthepartywhohadgainedthecauseshouldreceiveitandcarryittotheexchequer，totheendthattheremightbealastingpeace，saysthelawamongtheRipuarians。
　　Thegreatnessofthefredumwasproportionedtothedegreeofprotection：thusthefredumfortheking’sprotectionwasgreaterthanwhatwasgrantedfortheprotectionofthecount，oroftheotherjudges。[156]
　　HereIseetheoriginofthejurisdictionofthelords。Thefiefscomprisedverylargeterritories，asappearsfromavastnumberofrecords。IhavealreadyprovedthatthekingsraisednotaxesonthelandsbelongingtothedivisionoftheFranks；muchlesscouldtheyreservetothemselvesanydutiesonthefiefs。Thosewhoobtainedthemhadinthisrespectafullandperfectenjoyment，reapingeverypossibleemolumentfromthem。Andasoneofthemostconsiderableemolumentswasthejusticiaryprofits（freda），[157]whichwerereceivedaccordingtotheusageoftheFranks，itfollowedthencethatthepersonseizedofthefiefwasalsoseizedofthejurisdiction，theexerciseofwhichconsistedofthecompositionsmadetotherelatives，andoftheprofitsaccruingtothelord；itwasnothingmorethanorderingthepaymentofthecompositionsofthelaw，anddemandingthelegalfines。Wefindbytheformulariescontainingconfirmationoftheperpetuityofafiefinfavourofafeudallord，[158]oroftheprivilegesoffiefsinfavourofchurches，[159]thatthefiefswerepossessedofthisright。Thisappearsalsofromaninfinitenumberofcharters[160]mentioningaprohibitiontotheking’sjudgesorofficersofenteringupontheterritoryinordertoexerciseanyactofjudicaturewhatsoever，ortodemandanyjudiciaryemolument。Whentheking’sjudgescouldnolongermakeanydemandinadistrict，theyneverenteredit；andthosetowhomthisdistrictwasleftperformedthesamefunctionsashadbeenexercisedbeforebythejudges。
　　Theking’sjudgesareforbiddenalsotoobligethepartiestogivesecurityfortheirappearingbeforethem；itbelongedthereforetothepersonwhohadreceivedtheterritoryinfieftodemandthissecurity。
　　Theymentionalsothattheking’scommissariesshallnotinsistuponbeingaccommodatedwithalodging；ineffect，theynolongerexercisedanyfunctioninthosedistricts。
　　Theadministrationthereforeofjustice，bothintheoldandnewfiefs，wasarightinherentintheveryfiefitself，alucrativerightwhichconstitutedapartofit。Forthisreasonithadbeenconsideredatalltimesinthislight；whencethismaximarose，thatjurisdictionsarepatrimonialinFrance。
　　Somehavethoughtthatthejurisdictionsderivedtheiroriginfromthemanumissionsmadebythekingsandlordsinfavouroftheirbondmen。ButtheGermannations，andthosedescendedfromthem，arenottheonlypeoplewhomanumittedtheirbondmen，andyettheyaretheonlypeoplethatestablishedpatrimonialjurisdictions。Besides，wefindbytheformulariesofMarculfus[161]thattherewerefreemendependentonthesejurisdictionsintheearliesttimes：thebondmenwerethereforesubjecttothejurisdiction，becausetheywereupontheterritory；andtheydidnotgiverisetothefiefsforhavingbeenannexedtothefief。
　　Othershavetakenashortercut；thelords，saythey（andthisisalltheysay），usurpedthejurisdictions。ButarethenationsdescendedfromGermanytheonlypeopleintheworldthatusurpedtherightsofprinces？
　　Wearesufficientlyinformedbyhistorythatseveralothernationshaveencroachedupontheirsovereigns，andyetwefindnootherinstanceofwhatwecallthejurisdictionofthelords。TheoriginofitisthereforetobetracedintheusagesandcustomsoftheGermans。
　　WhoeverhasthecuriositytolookintoLoyseau[162]willbesurprisedatthemannerinwhichthisauthorsupposesthelordstohaveproceededinordertoformandusurptheirdifferentjurisdictions。Theymusthavebeenthemostartfulpeopleintheworld；theymusthaverobbedandplundered，notafterthemannerofamilitarynation，butasthecountryjusticesandtheattorniesroboneanother。Thosebravewarriorsmustbesaidtohaveformedageneralsystemofpoliticsthroughoutalltheprovincesofthekingdom，andinsomanyothercountriesinEurope；
　　Loyseaumakesthemreasonashehimselfreasonedinhiscloset。
　　Oncemore；ifthejurisdictionwasnotadependenceofthefief，howcomeweeverywheretofindthattheserviceofthefiefwastoattendthekingorthelord，bothintheircourtsandinthearmy？[163]
　　21。OftheTerritorialJurisdictionoftheChurches。Thechurchesacquiredveryconsiderableproperty。Wefindthatourkingsgavethemgreatseigniories，thatis，greatfiefs；andwefindjurisdictionsestablishedatthesametimeinthedemesnesofthosechurches。Whencecouldsoextraordinaryaprivilegederiveitsorigin？itmustcertainlyhavebeeninthenatureofthegrant。Thechurchlandhadthisprivilegebecauseithadnotbeentakenfromit。Aseigniorywasgiventothechurch；anditwasallowedtoenjoythesameprivilegesasifithadbeengrantedtoavassal，itwasalsosubjectedtothesameserviceasitwouldhavepaidtothestateifithadbeengiventoalayman，accordingtowhatwehavealreadyobserved。
　　Thechurcheshadthereforetherightofdemandingthepaymentofcompositionsintheirterritory，andofinsistinguponthefredum；andasthoserightsnecessarilyimpliedthatofhinderingtheking’sofficersfromenteringupontheterritorytodemandthesefredaandtoexerciseactsofjudicature，therightwhichecclesiasticshadofadministeringjusticeintheirownterritorywascalledimmunity，inthestyleoftheformularies，ofthecharters，andofthecapitularies。[164]
　　ThelawoftheRipuarians[165]forbidsthefreedomofthechurches[166]
　　toholdtheassemblyforadministeringjusticeinanyotherplacethaninthechurchwheretheyweremanumitted。[167]Thechurcheshadthereforejurisdictionsevenoverfreemen，andheldtheirplacitaintheearliesttimesofthemonarchy。
　　IfindintheLivesoftheSaints[168]thatClovisgavetoacertainholypersonpoweroveradistrictofsixleagues，andexempteditfromallmannerofjurisdiction。This，Ibelieve，isafalsity，butitisafalsityofaveryancientdate；boththetruthandthefictioncontainedinthatlifeareinrelationtothecustomsandlawsofthosetimes，anditisthesecustomsandlawsweareinvestigating。[169]
　　ClothariusIIordersthebishopsorthenobilitywhoarepossessedofestatesindistantparts，tochooseupontheveryspotthosewhoaretoadministerjustice，ortoreceivethejudiciaryemoluments。[170]
　　Thesameprinceregulatesthejudiciarypowerbetweentheecclesiasticcourtsandhisofficers。[171]TheCapitularyofCharlemagneintheyear802prescribestothebishopsandabbotsthequalificationsnecessaryfortheirofficersofjustice。Anothercapitularyofthesameprinceinhibitstheroyalofficers[172]toexerciseanyjurisdictionoverthosewhoareemployedincultivatingchurchlands，excepttheyenteredintothatstatebyfraud，andtoexemptthemselvesfromcontributingtothepubliccharges。[173]ThebishopsassembledatRheimsmadeadeclarationthatthevassalsbelongingtotherespectivechurchesarewithintheirim—munity。[174]TheCapitularyofCharlemagneintheyear806ordainsthatthechurchesshouldhavebothcriminalandciviljurisdictionoverthosewholiveupontheirlands。[175]Infine，asthecapitularyofCharlestheBald[176]distinguishesbetweentheking’sjurisdiction，thatofthelords，andthatofthechurch，Ishallsaynothingfurtheruponthissubject。
　　22。ThattheJurisdictionswereestablishedbeforetheEndoftheSecondRace。Ithasbeenpretendedthatthevassalsusurpedthejurisdictionintheirseigniories，duringtheconfusionofthesecondrace。Thosewhochooserathertoformageneralpropositionthantoexamineitfounditeasiertosaythatthevassalsdidnotpossessthantodiscoverhowtheycametopossess。Butthejurisdictionsdonotowetheirorigintousurpations；theyarederivedfromtheprimitiveestablishment，andnotfromitscorruption。
　　"Hewhokillsafreeman，"saysthelawoftheBavarians，"shallpayacompositiontohisrelativesifhehasany；ifnot，heshallpayittotheduke，ortothepersonunderwhoseprotectionhehadputhimselfinhislifetime。"[177]itiswellknownwhatitwastoputoneselfundertheprotectionofanotherforabenefice。
　　"Hewhohadbeenrobbedofhisbondman，"saysthelawoftheAlemans，"shallhaverecoursetotheprincetowhomtherobberissubject；totheendthathemayobtainacomposition。"[178]
　　"Ifacentenarius，"saysthedecreeofChildebert，"findsarobberinanotherhundredthanhisown，orinthelimitsofourfaithfulvassals，anddoesnotdrivehimout，heshallbeanswerablefortherobber，orpurgehimselfbyoath。"[179]Therewasthereforeadifferencebetweenthedistrictofthecentenariiandthatofthevassals。
　　ThisdecreeofChildebert[180]explainstheconstitutionofClothariusofthesameyear，whichbeinggivenforthesameoccasionandonthesamematterdiffersonlyintheterms；theconstitutioncallingintrustewhatbythedecreeisstyledinterminisfideliumnostrorum。
　　MessieursBignonandDucange，whopretendthatintrustesignifiedanotherking’sdemesne，aremistakenintheirconjecture。[181]
　　Pepin，KingofItaly，inaconstitutionthathadbeenmadeaswellfortheFranksasfortheLombards，[182]afterimposingpenaltiesonthecountsandotherroyalofficersforprevaricationsordelaysintheadministrationofjustice，ordainsthatifithappensthataFrankoraLombard，possessedofafief，isunwillingtoadministerjustice，thejudgetowhosedistricthebelongsshallsuspendtheexerciseofhisfief，andinthemeantime，eitherthejudgeorhiscommissaryshalladministerjustice。[183]
　　ItappearsbyaCapitularyofCharlemagne，[184]thatthekingsdidnotlevythefredainallplaces。Anothercapitularyofthesameprinceshowsthefeudallaws[185]andfeudalcourttohavebeenalreadyestablished。AnotherofLouistheDebonnaireordainsthatwhenapersonpossessedofafiefdoesnotadministerjustice，[186]orbindersitfrombeingadministered，theking’scommissariesshallliveinhishouseatdiscretion，tilljusticebeadministered。IshalllikewisequotetwocapitulariesofCharlestheBald；oneoftheyear861，[187]wherewefindtheparticularjurisdictionsestablished，withjudgesandsubordinateofficers；andtheotheroftheyear864，[188]wherehemakesadistinctionbetweenhisownseignioriesandthoseofprivatepersons。
　　Wehavenottheoriginalgrantsofthefiefs，becausetheywereestablishedbythepartitionwhichisknowntohavebeenmadeamongtheconquerors。Itcannot，therefore，beprovedbyoriginalcontractsthatthejurisdictionswereatfirstannexedtothefiefs：butifintheformulariesoftheconfirmations，orofthetranslationsofthosefiefsinperpetuity，wefind，asalreadyhasbeenobserved，thatthejurisdictionwasthereestablished，thisjudiciaryrightmustcertainlyhavebeeninherentinthefiefandoneofitschiefprivileges。
　　Wehaveafargreaternumberofrecordsthatestablishthepatrimonialjurisdictionoftheclergyintheirdistrictsthantherearetoprovethatofthebeneficesorfiefsofthefeudallords；forwhichtworeasonsmaybeassigned。Thefirst，thatmostoftherecordsnowextantwerepreservedorcollectedbythemonks，fortheuseoftheirmonasteries。Thesecond，thatthepatrimonyoftheseveralchurcheshavingbeenformedbyparticulargrants，andbyakindofderogationfromtheorderestablished，theywereobligedtohavechartersgrantedtothem；whereastheconcessionsmadetothefeudallordsbeingconsequencesofthepoliticalorder，theyhadnooccasiontodemand，andmuchlesstopreserve，aparticularcharter。Naythekingswereoftentimessatisfiedwithmakingasimpledeliverywiththesceptre，asappearsfromtheLifeofSt。Maur。
　　ButthethirdformularyofMarculfussufficientlyprovesthattheprivilegesofimmunity，andconsequentlythatofjurisdiction，werecommontotheclergyandthelaity，sinceitismadeforboth。[189]ThesamemaybesaidoftheconstitutionofClothariusII。[190]
　　23。GeneralIdeaoftheAbbéduBos’BookontheEstablishmentoftheFrenchMonarchyinGaul。BeforeIfinishthisbook，itwillnotbeimpropertowriteafewstricturesontheAbbéduBos’performance，becausemynotionsareperpetuallycontrarytohis；andifhehashitonthetruth，Imusthavemissedit。
　　Thisperformancehasimposeduponagreatmanybecauseitispennedwithart；becausethepointinquestionisconstantlysupposed；becausethemoreitisdeficientinproofsthemoreitaboundsinprobabilities；
　　and，infine，becauseaninfinitenumberofconjecturesarelaiddownasprinciples，andthenceotherconjecturesareinferredasconsequences。
　　Thereaderforgetshehasbeendoubtinginordertobegintobelieve。
　　Andasaprodigiousfundoferuditionisinterspersed，notinthesystembutaroundit，themindistakenupwiththeappendages，andneglectstheprincipal。Besides，suchavastmultitudeofresearcheshardlypermitsonetoimaginethatnothinghasbeenfound；thelengthofthewaymakesusthinkthatwehavearrivedatourjourney’send。
　　Butwhenweexaminethematterthoroughly，wefindanimmensecolossuswithearthenfeet；anditistheearthenfeetthatrenderthecolossusimmense。IftheAbbéduBos’systemhadbeenwellgrounded，hewouldnothavebeenobligedtowritethreetediousvolumestoproveit；hewouldhavefoundeverythingwithinhissubject，andwithoutwanderingoneverysideinquestofwhatwasextremelyforeigntoit；evenreasonitselfwouldhaveundertakentorangethisinthesamechainwiththeothertruths。Ourhistoryandlawswouldhavetoldhim，"Donottakesomuchtrouble，weshallbeyourvouchers。"
　　24。ThesameSubjectcontinued。ReflectiononthemainPartoftheSystem。TheAbbéduBosendeavoursbyallmeanstoexplodetheopinionthattheFranksmadetheconquestofGaul。Accordingtohissystem。Ourkingswereinvitedbythepeople，andonlysubstitutedthemselvesintheplaceandsucceededtotherightsoftheRomanEmperors。