m 



3dly, Principles of liberty wer6 universally diffused, which 

 M-^ere either extinguished or unknown dufing the existence of 

 the Roman government, the courts of justice were so well 

 modelled, that their decrees were commonly conformable 

 to their laws and customs 



4thly. The rights of women and the care of orphans were 

 specially attended to. 



5thly. Their veneration for the clergy was such, that 

 amidst all then- intestine wars after their conversion to Chris- 

 tianity, monasteries and ecclesiastical lands were generally 

 respected. To this respect we owe the preservation of all 

 the classics and other ancient writers that we now possess. 



6thly. By the institution of chivalry in the 1 1""- century', a 

 high sense of fidelity, honour and a spirit of gallantry were 

 introduced, by which the rustic manners of the preceding 

 ages were gradually refined and polished. 



Favourable, however, as these circumstances were to hu- 

 man happiness, these governments contained numerous ob- 

 structions to its perfect attainment. 



1st. A marked partiality was manifested for some centuries 

 in favour of the Barbarian conquerors and their descendants, 

 injurious and disgraceful to the ancient inhabitants and their 

 posterity ; most crimes were punished by pecuniary mulcts, 

 but those inflicted on the latter were double those inflicted on 

 the former. 



2dly. The 



