mature and independent, it would be found perhaps impoffible to introduce fubjection and fub ordination among them; but the condition of human infancy prepares men for fociety, by combining individuals into fmall communities, and by placing them from the beginning under direction and control. A family contains the rudiments of an empire. The authority of one over many, and the difpofition to govern and to be governed, are in this way incidental to the very nature, and coeval no doubt with the existence, of the human species.

Moreover, the conftitution of families not only affifts the formation of civil government, by the difpofitions which it generates, but also furnishes the firft fteps of the process by which empires have been actually reared. A parent would retain a confiderable part of his authority after his children were grown up, and had formed families of their own. The obedience of which they remembered not the beginning, would be confidered as natural; and would fcarcely, during the parent's life, be entirely or abruptly withdrawn. Here then we see the second stage in the progrefs of dominion. The firft was, that of a parent over his young children: this, that of an anceftor prefiding over his adult defcendants.

Although

Although the original progenitor was the centre of union to his pofterity, yet it is not, probable that the affociation would be immediately or altogether diffolved by his death. Connected by habits of intercourfe and affection, and by fome common rights, neceffities, and interefts, they would confider themfelves as allied to each other in a nearer degree than to the reft of the fpecies. Almoft all would be fenfible of an inclination to continue in the fociety in which they had been brought up; and experiencing, as they foon would do, many inconveniencies from the abfence of that authority which their common ancestor exercised, efpecially in deciding their disputes, and directing their operations in matters in which, it was neceffary to act in conjunction, they might be induced to fupply his place by a formal choice of a fucceffor; or rather might willingly, and almost imperceptibly, transfer their obedience to fome one of the family, who by his age or services, or by the part he poffeffed in the direction of their affairs during the lifetime of the parent, had already taught them to refpect his advice, or to attend to his commands; or, laftly, the profpect of thefe inconveniencies might prompt the firft ancestor to appoint a fucceffor; and his I pofterity,

VOL. II.

1

pofterity, from the fame motive, united with an habitual deference to the ancestor's authority, might receive the appointment with submission. Here then we have a tribe or clan incorporated under one chief. Such communities might be increased by confiderable numbers, and fulfil the purposes of civil union without any other or more regular convention, conftitution, or form of government than what we have defcribed. Every branch which was flipped off from the primitive ftock, and removed to a diftance from it, would in like manner take root, and grow into a feparate clan. Two or three of these clans were frequently, we may fuppofe, united into one. Marriage, conqueft, mutual defence, common diftrefs, or more accidental coalitions, might produce this effect.

II. A fecond fource of perfonal authority, and which might eafily extend, or fometimes perhaps fuperfede, the patriarchal, is that which refults from military arrangement. In wars either of aggreffion or defence, manifest neceffity would prompt thofe who fought on the fame fide to array themselves under one leader. And although their leader was advanced to this eminence for the purpose only, and during the ope rations of a fingle expedition, yet his authority

would

would not always terminate with the reafons for which it was conferred. A warrior who had led forth his tribe against their enemics with repeated fuccefs, would procure to himself, even in the deliberations of peace, a powerful and permanent influence. If this advantage were added to the authority of the patriarchal chief, or favoured by any previous diftinction of ancestry, it would be no difficult undertaking for the perfon who poffeffed it to obtain the almost abfolute direction of the affairs of the community; efpecially if he was careful to affociate to himself proper auxiliaries, and content to practife the obvious art of gratifying or removing those who oppofed his pretenfions.

But although we may be able to comprehend how by his perfonal abilities or fortune one man may obtain the rule over many, yet it seems more difficult to explain how empire became hereditary, or in what manner fovereign power, which is never acquired without great merit or management, learns to defcend in a fucceffion, which has no dependence upon any qualities, either of understanding or activity. The caufes which have introduced hereditary dominion into fo general a reception in the world, are principally

I 2

pally the following-the influence of affociation, which communicates to the fon a portion of the fame refpect which was wont to be paid to the virtues, or station, of the father-the mutual jealoufy of other competitors-the greater envy, with which all behold the exaltation of an equal, than the continuance of an acknowledged fuperiority—a reigning prince leaving behind him many adherents, who can preserve their own importance only by fupporting the fucceffion of his children-Add to these reasons, that elections to the fupreme power having upon trial produced deftructive contentions, many flates would take refuge from a return of the fame calamities, in a rule of fucceffion; and no rule prefents itfelf fo obvious, certain, and intelligible, as confanguinity of birth.

The ancient flate of fociety in most countries, and the modern condition of fome uncivilized parts of the world, exhibit that appearance, which this account of the origin of civil government would lead us to expect. The earlieft hiftories of Palefline, Greece, Italy, Goul, Britain, inform us, that thefe countries were occupied by many small independent nations, not much perhaps unlike those which are found at present

amongst