found. But this no way obliges men to run into the other extreme, in as much as the variety of forms, between mere democracy and abſolute monarchy, is almoſt infinite. And if I 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 may make it good. This at the leaſt is certain, that the government of the Hebrews, inſtitutcd by God, had a judge, the great Sanhedrim, and general aſſemblies of the people. Sparta had two kings, a ſenate of twenty-eight choſen men, and the like aſſemblies. All the Dorian cities had a chief magiſtrate, a ſenate, and occaſional aſſemblies. The cities of Ionia, Athens and others, had an Archon, the Areopagitæ, &c. and all judgments concerning matters of the greateſt importance, as well as the election of magiſtrates, were referred to the people. Rome, in the beginning, had a king and a ſenate, while the election of kings, and judgments upon appeals, remained in the people; afterwards, conſuls repreſenting kings, and veſted with equal power, a more numerous ſenate, and more frequent meetings of the people. Venice has at this day, a duke, the ſenate of the pregadi, and the great aſſembly of the nobility, which is the whole city; the reſt of the inhabitants being only incolæ, not cives; and thoſe of the other cities or countries are their ſubjects, and do not participate in the government.
Genoa is governed in like manner; Lucca not unlike to them. Germany is at this day governed by an emperor, the princes or great lords in their ſeveral precincts; the cities by their own magiſtrates; and by general diets, in which the whole power of the nation reſides, and where the empe-
