6 Recovery of the *• Cieero de Republica" [Feb. J, 

 cated much consideration to such nication too numerous; and, as upon 

 things, is requested by his visitors, — such a subject I am not sinful enough 

 who, after awhile, tacitly admit them- to be unjust by being imperfect, 1 shatl 

 selves, and the generality of people, to reserve extracts to another month, 

 be by no means sufficiently instructed But there is one passage so truly 

 in the nearer and more important descriptive of what we have lately 

 affairs of the lower world, though they seen in Europe, and another so con- 

 were busily intent upon the incidents firmatory of the preference to be given 

 of the higher, to unfold the policy of to that mixed government for which 

 "overnment. The favour is suggested millions are still struggling, — and mil- 

 by an observation of Lelius, that the lions have, I fear, to struggle, — that 

 convulsions occasioned by the Gracchi I cannot omit them ; sure as I am that 

 introduced a double senate to the con- no greater truth or better sentiments 

 stitution, and made the Romans two can conclude a paper. Both are 

 people, — a fact, he asserts, which ought extracts from the first book: 

 to engage their minds much more than Sic lanqnam pilam rapiimt inter se ra- 

 the rise of a second sun in the sky. publica; statum, tyranni ab regibus; ab 



iis atitein principes ant popnli ; a qiiibiis 

 aiit factiones ant tyranui ; nee diutius nn- 

 quani tenetur idem reipublicffi modus. 



Thus, like a ball at play, is the 



government snatched by the king, who 



The work comprises six books, and t^^"'"^^ a tyrant; then from him, or 



.:i.„„-.H iho nnnvnrsation for throe ^y the nobdity, or by the people ; and 



'J'herefore the cause of it, and the wis 

 dom to prevent such recurrences, 

 should first fix tiieir enquiries. So far 

 so appropriate : Scipio assents, and 

 the business of the book begins. 



prolonged the conversation for three "^ "•« ■lou.my, or uy u,u ,.t;ui,.« , auu 



days. The first book describes the nexfrom them by a traction, or agaia 



different kinds of governments that ^y ^''^ "surpaUon of tyranny ; nor ,s 



may exist; instances the causes from f"y state-form ever more pcrrnanent 



•^ ' • • " ■ than the ball remams longer in one 



which they arise, and speaks of the 

 vicissitudes they are likely to undergo. 

 This is the most perfect and most 

 pleasing part of the Dialogues. The 

 second takes an historical view of the 

 Roman state, and the nature of its 

 political institutions. It contains a 



hand. 



Quod ita cum sit, tribns primis gene- 

 ribus longe preestat, nie&. sententik, re- 

 qniein ; regio aiitem ipsi praestabit id 

 qnod erit eqnatiim et tcmperatum ex 

 tribns optimis rerum publicarum modis. 

 Placet enim esse qniddani in republic^ 



curious definition, or rather account, of prsestans et regale; esse alind auctoritate 



one government which partakes of a 

 monarchy, aristocracy, and demo- 

 cracy ; and one, again, in which they 

 arc united as if in one composition. A 

 matter of distinction which to English- 

 men now-a-days will not be easily 

 conceivable, and certainly not easily 

 produced. The third and fourth books 



principnm partnm ac tribntum; esse 

 qnasdam res servatas judicio volnntatiqne 

 ninltitndinis. Hac constilntio prironm 

 liabet eqnabiiitatem quondam niagnam, 

 qu^ carere diutiua vix possunt liberi ; 

 deinde firmitudinem quod et ilia prima 

 facile in contraria vitia convertnntnr, ut 

 existat ex rege dominns, ex optimatibns 

 factio, ex popnio turba et confnsio ; qnod- 



are scraps, indeed ; they engaged the q„e ip^g genera generibns sa^pe commn 



second day, and are confined to disqui- tantur novis. Hoc in liac juncia modera- 



sitioas on law and jurisprudence, and tique permixt^ confirmatione reipublicae 



the habits most proper to be enforced non fere sene niagnis principum vitiis eve- 



among a people by political provision, nit. Non est enim causa conversionis. 



Of the remaining day's occupation, the "bi in sno quisque est gradu fii miter loca- 



present volume leaves us almost in tus et non subest quo priecipitet et 



ignorance ; the sixth book is elsewhere ^^^^^- .^ . ,, ■ • , • 



said to have given rules for a minister's Thus, as it is, the monarchical, m 



<rood behaviour; and, God knows, my opinion, far excels; but even it will 



there are many who seem to want sadly ^^ excelled by one equally tempered 



a word or two of information. In this 

 respect our loss is considerable and 

 grievous. 



As I read along, I noted passages 

 for translation, to present your readers 

 with a competent knowledge of the 

 detail and principles of the work in the 

 author's language. I find, however, 

 my selections for the present coniniu- 



by a junction of the three first elemen- 

 tary forms. For it is desirable in a 

 government to have something eminent 

 and royal ; something distinctly sub- 

 ject to the authority of superior men; 

 and some aflairs reserved for the will 

 and judgment of the people. Such a 

 constitution particularly enjoys equa- 

 bility, — an adwntage freemen cannot 



long. 



