An Inquiry into the Principles of Taxation. 13 



morally bound by their afts : And Britons would then 

 lofe the glory, which Plato afcribed to the citi2ens 

 of Athens, of being at once the mailers and 

 flaves of the laws. 



The divifion of the fovereignty of thefe realnns 

 into three eftates, which, afting in concert, we 

 denominate parliament, by reciprocal checks, and 

 reciprocal aids, gives our civil polity advantages 

 enjoyed by no 'other in Europe. Yet it was an 

 apopthegm of the great Lord Treafurer Burleigh 

 that England could never be ruined but by a par- 

 liament.* And the doftrine of its omnipotence, 

 which fucceeded that of the divine and indefeafible 

 right of our kings, has contributed to the lofs of 

 America, as well as to the feparation of Ireland ; 

 and may, hereafter, prove fubverfive of our liber- 

 ties. For with the fpecious obfervance of every 

 form of our conftitution, the effence of it may be 

 annihilated ; as occurred at Rome, under the def- 

 potifm of Auguftus : For the fenate retained 

 themfelves the image of freedom, whilft they 

 gave a full fanftion to his ufurpation. Indeed 

 corporate bodies, when they afFe6l unlimited 

 power, are capable of proceeding to greater lengths 

 than any individual. 



Supreme authority is perfe6tly diftin6t from 

 arbitrary or abfolute power. The one is founded 

 on certain fundamental principles, and limited by 



* Blackftonc. 



certain 



