BOOK III PART II
the first sovereign, who founded any monar-
chy, dies; in that case, the right of succession
naturally prevails in their stead, and men are
commonly induced to place the son of their late
monarch on the throne, and suppose him to in-
herit his father’s authority. The presumed con-
sent of the father, the imitation of the succes-
sion to private families, the interest, which the
state has in chusing the person, who is most
powerful, and has the most numerous follow-
ers; all these reasons lead men to prefer the son
of their late monarch to any other person.^24
These reasons have some weight; but I am(^24) To prevent mistakes I must observe, that this case
of succession is not the same with that of hereditary
monarchies, where custom has fix’d the right of succes-
sion. These depend upon the principle of long posses-
sion above explain’d.