i8o On the ORIGIN and STRUCTURE of, &c. 



of delegates with their fovereigns, and with each other ; and, 

 from little detached dependent plebeian republics, came to form 

 a body which reforted to the diets, as a third and an ignoble 

 eftate, formerly unknown in the European conftitutions. 



THESE obfervations, it is hoped, are fufficient to juftify the 

 pofition, That the fame fimple arrangements of government per- 

 vaded the whole of a German nation, at its eftablimment in a 

 Roman province ; and that it was only in confequence of a re- 

 volution, the fleps of which may, in general, be diftinguimed^ 

 that we are entitled to fuppofe that the idea of aflembling a na- 

 tion by its reprefentatives was fuggefted or realized *. 



* IT is fcarce neceflary to remark, that the claims of one or two Englilh boroughs 

 for the privilege of electing members of parliament, on the ground that they had re- 

 ibrted to the Saxon diets, is rather explained by, than repugnant to the above hypothe- 

 fis. The evidence that was offered of the grounds of claim has not been preferved ; 

 and the age in which it was offered is diftinguifhed by having been impofed upon by the 

 grofTeft forgeries. The tradition, however, of anciently reporting to the diets in the 

 manner I have ftated, may naturally, both have fuggefted the claim, and rendered it fuC- 

 cefsfd, 



VIII. 



