usually transmits his fortune to his posterity, and along with it all the means of creating dependence which he enjoyed. Thus the fon, who inherits the eftate of his father, is enabled to maintain an equal rank, while, at the fame time, he preferves all the influence acquired by the former proprietor, augmented and handed down from one generation to another. Hence that regard to genealogy and defcent which we often meet with among those who have remained long in a paftoral state.-From the fimplicity of their manners, they are not apt to fquander or alienate their poffeffions; and the representative of an ancient family is naturally disposed to be oftentatious of a circumstance which contributes so much to increase his power and authority *. For the fame reafon the dignity of the chief, which in a former period was frequently elective, is now fuffered more commonly to pafs from father to fon by hereditary fucceffion.-As the chief poffeffes the largest eftate, so he represents the most powerful family in the tribe; a family from which all the rest are vain of being descend * All the Tartars, of whatever country or religion, have an exact know. ledge of the tribe from which they are defcended, and carefully preferve the remembrance of it from one generation to another.—Although the tribes are often divided into many branches, each branch is confidered as belonging to the fame tribe.-Hiftoire generale des voyages, tom. ix. liv. 3. chap. 3. p. 33. - ed, and the fuperiority of which they have been uniformly accustomed to acknowledge. He enjoys not only that rank and confequence which is derived from his own opulence, but feems entitled to the continuance of that refpect and fubmiffion which has been paid to his ancestors; and it rarely happens that any other perfon, though of fuperior abilities, is capable of fupplanting him, or of diverting the course of that influence which has flowed fo long in the fame channel, and has become fo irresistible by custom. As the chief man, from his experience, wisdom, and wealth, is naturally engaged in protecting and securing the members of his tribe from the hostile attacks of their neighbours, fo he endeavours to prevent those disorders and quarrels which may fometimes arise among themfelves, and which tend to weaken and disturb the fociety. When a dispute or controversy happens among those who belong to different families, he readily interpofes by his good offices, in order to bring about a reconciliation between the parties; who at the fame time, if they choose to avoid an open rupture, may probably be willing to terminate their difference by referring it to his judgment. In order to render his decisions effectual, he finds it neceffary, at first, to employ persuasion and VOL. I. E entreaty. THUS IT WAS, THAT, UPON THE RUINS OF THE WESTERN EMPIRE, THERE AROSE IN EVERY PROVINCE PARTICULAR CHIEFS OR BARONS, WHO LIVED IN SEPARATE DISTRICTS, INDEPENDENT OF ONE ANOTHER, AND EACH OF WHOM PROCURED A NUMBER OF VASSALS OR MILITARY TENANTS, AND BECAME GREAT AND POWERFUL IN PROPORTION TO THE ESTATE WHICH HE POSSESSED. THIS APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN THE FIRST STEP TOWARD THE INTRODUCTION OF THAT SYSTEM OF FEUDAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH WAS AFTERWARDS ESTABLISHED AND SOON BROUGHT TO PERFECTION IN MOST OF THE COUNTRIES OF EUROPE. SECT. SECT. III. THE ORIGIN OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF GOVERNMENT; OR, THE MORE ADVANCED STAGE OF SOCIETY. THE improvement of agriculture, as it increases the quantity of provifions, and renders particular clans or tribes more numerous and flourishing, fo it obliges them at length to send out colonies to a distance, who occupy new feats wherever they can find a convenient fituation, and are formed into feparate villages, after the model of those with which they were formerly acquainted.— Thus, in proportion as a country is better cultivated, it comes to be inhabited by a greater number of distinct focieties, whether derived from the fame or from a different original, agreeing in their manners, and refembling each other in their government and institutions. Thefe different communities being frequently at war, and being expofed to continual invafions from their neighbours, are in many cafes determined, by the confideration of their mutual intereft, to unite against their common enemies, and to form a variety of combinations, which are more or less permanent, according as they are influenced by particular circumftances.-Thofe people who have found the advantage of joining their forces in one expedition, are naturally difpofed to continue the like affociation in another, and by degrees are encouraged to enter into a general defenfive alliance.-The intercourfe which they have maintained in war, is not entirely diffolved even in time of peace.-Though originally strangers to each other, yet, having many opportunities of affembling in their military enterprizes, they cannot fail to contract an acquaintance, which becomes the fource of their future correspondence.-They have frequent opportunities of meeting in their common sports and diverfions.The leading men of different villages entertain one another with ruftic hospitality and magnificence; intermarriages begin to take place between their respective families; and the various connexions of fociety are gradually multiplied and extended. From a fimple confederacy of this kind, an ARISTOCRATICAL GOVERNMENT is naturally established.-As |