22 HUME i 



constantly increasing tendency of monarchy to 

 become slightly absurd, from the ever-widening 

 discrepancy between modern political ideas and 

 the theory of kingship. As Hume observes, 

 even in his time, people had left off making 

 believe that a king was a different sj)ecies of man 

 from other men; and, since his day, more and 

 more such make-believes have become impossible; 

 until the maintenance of kingship in coming 

 generations seems likely to depend, entirely, upon 

 whether it is the general opinion, that a hereditary 

 president of our virtual republic will serve the 

 general interest better than an elective one or 

 not. The tendency of public feeling in this 

 direction is patent, but it does not follow that 

 a republic is to be the final stage of our govern- 

 ment. In fact, Hume thinks not: 



11 It is well known, that every government must come to 

 a period, and that death is unavoidable to the political, as 

 well as to the animal body. But, as one kind of death may 

 be preferable to another, it may be inquired, whether it be 

 more desirable for the British constitution to terminate in a 

 popular government, or in an absolute monarchy ? Here, I 

 would frankly declare, that though liberty be preferable to 

 slavery, in almost every case ; yet I should rather wish to 

 see an absolute monarch than a republic in this island. 

 For let us consider what kind of republic we have reason 

 to expect. The question is not concerning any fine imagin- 

 ary republic of which a man forms a plan in his closet. 

 There is no doubt but a popular government may be im- 

 agined more perfect than an absolute monarchy, or even 

 than our present constitution. But what reason have we 



