ther with the malignant satisfaetion of displacing its op- 

 ponents. 



Yet precarious and sickly as is the enjoyment of power, 

 its turbulent solicitude is esteemed by most of those who 

 possessed it, a lesser evil than the gloomy vacuity, and insi- 

 pid tranquillity of still life which succeeds to its loss ; and it 

 were well if that were all, for it is not unfrequently followed 

 by ignominy and contempt, or even legal prosecution. 

 What then can be the happiness of a state, whose preca- 

 rious possession is less pleasurable than either its acquisition 

 or loss are painful ? 



Yet so deeply rooted is the desire of most men to attain 

 power, that the Grand Council of V^enice, though consisting 

 of upwards of 400 members, patiently endured for three 

 centuries, and indeed to the final dissolution of the republic, 

 the annual despotism of the state inquisitors, though they 

 had every year the power of subverting it„ rather tlian forego 

 the hope of succeeding to it, though only for one year.* 



The general and principal desire of the rich, when arrived 

 at the middle period of life, though placed in the happiest 

 circumstances of ample competence aud tranquillity, is to at- 

 tain a state of opulence which from its exterior pomp, splen- 

 dor and parade, ihey fondly prefigure to themselves as a state 



of 

 z 2 



See Moovo's Italy, vol. I. p. 173. 



