179^* <"* ^^^ constitution. i6i 



security, and that of property became better known 

 in Europe, the election of kings U'as gradually set 

 aside, and the rule of hereditary succefsion was es- 

 tabllfhed in its stead. These are facts that cannot be 

 controverted, and tend most clearly to prove, that, in 

 matters of government, experience discovers that 

 what appears to be inviting to contemplate, often 

 proves to be very prejudicial, and that which in spe- 

 culation would seem to be demonstratively absurd, is 

 yet in the highest degree salutary v?hen reduced to 

 practice. 



The society of" the friends of the people," aware 

 of the arts that have been employed to depreciate them 

 in the eyes of sensible men, know well, that those 

 who have this object in view have endeavoured to 

 represent them as enemies to regal power of every 

 sort; though nothing can be more calumnious and un- 

 just. On this head I beg leave to quote a pafsage 

 from the justly celebrated historian of the decline 

 and fall of the Roman empire, which coincides entire- 

 ly with my own opinion, as well as with that of a 

 great majority of our society. 



" Of the various forms of government which have 

 prevailed in the world, says Mr Gibbon, an heredi- 

 tary monarchy seems to present the fairest scope for 

 ridicule. Is it pofsible to relate, without an indig- 

 nant smile, that, on the father's decease, the pro- 

 perty of a nation, like that of a drove of oxen, 

 descends to his infant son, as yet unknown to the 

 world and himself; and that the bravest warriors, 

 and the wisest statesmen, relinquifhing their natural 

 right of empire, approach the royal craddle with ben- 



VOL. X. K + 



