lypi' ON THE BRITISH COKSTITDTION. 165 



guard againft the improper exertions of power. In 

 this ftage of things the firfl: magiftrate may be confider- 

 ed as eleftive, and his office comes tacitly and imper- 

 ceptibly to be held for life, without any exprefs regu- 

 lation for that purpofe. 



The perfon entrufted with this power will gradually 

 perceive the great influence it gives him in fociety. By 

 the emoluments he has todifpofe of, by the favours he 

 can confer, his influence is gradually extending. He 

 thus acquires a fet of dependents, and retainers, who, 

 from motives of convenience, and hopes of favours, be- 

 came attached to him and his family. Other men of 

 eminence perceiving this, afpire to the throne. — They 

 court popularity, they form parties, and try to get a 

 majority of votes in the national aflcmblies. Intriguesbe- 

 gin to be formed for the purpofe of accelerating, or re- 

 tarding thefe meetings, and for obtaining a greater num- 

 ber of voices at them. Now, it comes to be dif- 



covered that the rude and inaccurate mode of convo- 

 cating thefe aflemblies, and of voting by acclamation, 

 were not fufficiently accurate, and that particular rules 

 ftiould be prefcribed, and adhered to in the meeting of 

 thefe people. — Their powers, as well as that of the 

 executive officer, begin to be defined, and limited ; and 

 the rudiments of fomething that might be called a con- 

 flitutional form of government begins to be faintly per- 

 ceptible — In this ftate of fociety the regal authority 

 may be faid to be firmly eftabliffied for life, though the 

 appointment to it be cleftive. 



During this ftate of thing*;, it may fometimes hap- 

 pen, from accidental circumftances, that the power of 

 different families will be fo nearly equal as to prevent 

 any one of them from obtaining an eftablifhed claim 

 to the fupereme authority for a long time 5 and the 

 crown will be ftill elective : but in general, fomc par- 

 ticular family will acquire the afcendency : the princes 

 will be fo often chofcn from that family that it will 

 be confidercd as in fome meafurc exclufively entitled to 



