BOOK III PART II
out adding any thing to it, or diminishing from
it. It is the same case with government. Noth-
ing is more advantageous to society than such
an invention; and this interest is sufficient to
make us embrace it with ardour and alacrity;
though we are obliged afterwards to regulate
and direct our devotion to government by sev-
eral considerations, which are not of the same
importance, and to chuse our magistrates with-
out having in view any particular advantage
from the choice.
The first of those principles I shall take notice
of, as a foundation of the right of magistracy,
is that which gives authority to all the most
established governments of the world without
exception: I mean, long possession in any one
form of government, or succession of princes.
It is certain, that if we remount to the first ori-