Book II.
Chap. 5.a kind of permanent depositary, and if this cannot be said of religion, it may of the customs that are respected instead of laws.
CHAP. V.
Of the Laws relative to the nature of a despotic Government.
FROM the nature of despotic power it follows that the single person invested with this power, commits the execution of it also to a single person. A man whom his senses continually inform, that he himself is every thing, and his subjects nothing, is naturally lazy, voluptuous, an ignorant. In consequence of this, he neglects the management of public affairs. But were he to commit the administration to many, there would be continual disputes among them; each would form intrigues to be his first slave; and he would be obliged to take the reins into his own hands. It is therefore more natural for him to resign it to a vizir[1], and to invest him with the same power as himself. The creation of a vizir is a fundamental law of this government.
It is related of a pope, that he had raised an infinite number of difficulties against his election, from a thorough conviction of his incapacity. At length he was prevailed on to accept of the pontificate; and resigned the administration intirely to his nephew. He was soon struck with surprize, and said, I should never have thought that these things were so easy. The same may be said of the
- ↑ The Eastern kings are never without vizirs, says Sir John Chardin.
