II. 



PAPERS OF THE LITERART CLASS. 



I. ESSAY on the ORIGIN and STRUCTURE of the EUROPEAN 

 LEGISLATURES. By ALL^N M^CONOCHIE, Efq; Advo- 

 cate, F. R. S. EDIN. and ProfeJJor of Public Law in the Ui~ 

 uerfity of EDINBURGH. 



PART I. 



Of the Period previous to the Conqueji of the Weftern Empire. 

 {Read by the Author, Dec. 15. 1783.] 



INTRODUCTION. 



TH E fall of the feudal fyftem was accomplifhed, in the prin- 

 cipal ftates of Europe, at a period when the revival of 

 learning had difrufed in fociety a fpirit of reflexion, and com- 

 municated, to the better fort, fome knowledge of the hiflory of 

 the Greek and Roman republics-. As it was, in general, the 

 kings who conducted the attack on the privileges of the feudal 

 nobility, the principal part of the fpoils had fallen naturally to 

 their {hare. But the people were warlike, the nobles were ftill 

 animated with the pride of rank, of family, and of their ancient 

 confequence, and men, in general, had begun to fpeculate on 

 their rights, and were unaccuflomed to perceive, with fatisfac- 

 tion, the whole powers of government centred in the crown. 



a 2 Hence 



