yo 



Professions, at least among tlie Assyrians, were hereditary ; 

 children were not permitted to quit their father's occupation 

 and embrace anotlier.* 



These governments must therefore be annexed to the scmi- 

 barharian ^pl'dss ; but I think they approached nearer to the 

 civiHzed state than the Egi/ptian, the evils of despotism 

 being less felt in dominions of such great extent than uilhin 

 the narrow bounds of Egypt, nor were their subjects op 

 pressed by that odious and stupid superstition under which 

 Egypt was rendered wretched and contemptible. 



Of the Grecian Governments. 



Of [these I shall mention only the two which are most 

 celebrated and best known to us, the Lacedemonian and the 

 Athenian. 



Of the Lacedemonian Governmenf. 



The Spartan government (so called because residing in 

 Sparta) has been amply described by many ancients, and 

 praised infinitely beyond its merits by most writers both an- 



cien: 



• Diodor. Lib. 2. p. J 4-5. 



