22 HUME I 



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 species 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 : 



" 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 imaginary republic of which a man 

 forms a plan in his closet. There is no doubt but a popular 

 government may be imagined more perfect than an absolute 

 monarchy, or even than our present constitution. But what 

 reason have we to expect that any such government will ever be 

 established in Great Britain, upon the dissolution of our 

 monarchy ? If any single person acquire power enough to take 

 our constitution to pieces, and put it up anew, he is really 



