Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1823 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VII. OBSERVATIONS ON GOVERNMENT AND MANNERS-RELIGION AND THE CHURCH. SCIENCES AND POLITE LITERATURE. I, PROGRESS OF MONARCHICAL GOVERNMENT, PARTI-CULARLY IN FRANCE. Th, It is an object highly worthy of curiosity to progre« of rrQ back to the orig-in of governments, and to govern: 0 .,. , 0 meats, trace their variations and progress; to see, tor example, petty, miserable, and oppressed states become happy and powerful republics; populous and warlike nations, formerly jealous of unbounded liberty, peaceably obeying the laws of a monarch; and monarchies, where absolute power seemed established, changed to a mixed constitution, where the powers are balanced by each other. In the course of the different ages we have remarked the most important changes. In this place, it will be proper to consider the result, and form a general idea, ranging in orderly connexion the scattered and too distant features. Let us particularly turn our eyes upon France, the history of which is better known, whose relations to the other states are more striking, and the different forms of whose political government give a picture of almost all the changes that have happened in other countries. Such an examination made with impartiality, utility far from weakening the submission due to the jjjjjjy, crown, can only render it more voluntary and perfect. It will prove how necessary tne increase of the sovereign power was to the state; that if the means used for effecting this purpose were not always equitable, the end has been salutary; and that tne misfortunes which till that time befel the nation, proceeded from the disorders of anarchy, or the tyranny of aristocracy. In a word, truth necessarily takes the side of legal authority. A herd of barbarians, known by the name inw...
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