BOOK III PART II
the same effect in private families, and had al-
ready, in two instances, taken place in the pub-
lic? Ought Germanicus to be esteemed the el-
dest son, because he was born before Drufus; or
the younger, because he was adopted after the
birth of his brother? Ought the right of the el-
der to be regarded in a nation, where the eldest
brother had no advantage in the succession to
private families? Ought the Roman empire at
that time to be esteemed hereditary, because of
two examples; or ought it, even so early, to be
regarded as belonging to the stronger, or the
present possessor, as being founded on so re-
cent an usurpation? Upon whatever principles
we may pretend to answer these and such like
questions, I am afraid we shall never be able
to satisfy an impartial enquirer, who adopts no
party in political controversies, and will be sat-
isfied with nothing but sound reason and phi-