161 
of Edinburgh, Session 1880 - 81 . 
Chap, ii., Sec. 16. The best governments in the world have been 
composed of monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy. 
Chap, ii., Sec. 28. Men living under popular or mixed governments 
are more careful of the public good than in absolute monarchies. 
Chap, ii., Sec. 30. A monarchy cannot be well regulated, unless 
the powers of the monarch are limited by law. 
Chap, iii., Sec. 37. The English government was not ill consti- 
tuted ; the defects more lately observed proceeding from the change 
of manners, and the corruption of the times. 
On the form of government he says under the first head : — 
“ As for democracy, I believe it can only suit with the conveni- 
ence of a small town, accompanied by such circumstances as are 
seldom found. But this no way obliges men to run into the 
other extreme, inasmuch as the variety of forms between mere 
democracy and absolute monarchy is almost infinite : and if T should 
undertake to say there never was a good government in the world 
that did not consist of the three simple species of monarchy, 
aristocracy, and democracy, I think I might make it good.” 
“ On the other side, in a popular or mixed government every man 
is concerned ; every one has a part, according to his quality or 
merit. All changes are prejudicial to all; whatsoever any man 
conceives to be for the public good, he may propose it in the 
magistracy, or to the magistrate; the body of the people is the 
public defence ; the advantages of good success are communicated 
to all, and every one bears a part in the losses. This makes men 
generous and industrious, and fills them with love to their country.” 
This is well thought and expressed. One quotation more on the 
English constitution will end this paper. 
“ Our ancestors may evidently appear not only to have intended 
well, but to have taken a right course to accomplish what they in- 
tended. Taking our affairs at the worst, we shall soon find that if 
we have the same spirit they had, we may easily restore our nation 
to its ancient liberty, dignity, and happiness, and if we do not, the 
fault is owing to ourselves, and not to any want of virtue and 
wisdom in them.” 
These words have the true ring. They were published in 1688, 
and the experience of two centuries of great prosperity has con- 
firmed their sagacity. 
