ed Solon's laws and plan of government, yet they did not maintain it above one hundred years, notwithſtanding they made ſeveral new regulations to reſtrain the inſolence of the nobles, and the liccntiouſneſs of the commons; the neceſſity of which Solon had not foreſeen: ſo that for want of tempering his democracy with a ſhare of ariſtocracy, and princely power, it was of ſhort duration in compariſon of the conſtitution of Sparta.
But to return to Rome.—Though that city had not a Lycurgus to model its conſtitution at firſt, in ſuch a manner as might preſerve its liberty for a long courſe of time; yet ſo many were the accidents which happened in the conteſts betwixt the patricians and plebeians, that chance effected, what the lawgiver had not provided for: ſo that if it was not perfect at the beginning, it became ſo after a while; for though the firſt laws were deficient, yet they were neither incapable of amendment, nor repugnant to its future perfection; ſince not only Romulus, but all the reſt of the kings that ſucceeded him, made ſeveral good alterations in them, and ſuch as were well calculated for the ſupport of liberty. But, as it was their intention to found a monarchy, and not a republic; when that city had ſhaken off the yoke of a tyrant, there ſeemed to be many proviſions ſtill wanting for the further maintenance of its freedom. And notwithſtanding tyranny was an laſt eradicated, by the ways and means abovementioned, yet thoſe who had chiefly contributed to it, created two conſuls to ſupply the place of royalty; by which it came to paſs, that the name alone, and not the authority, of princes was extinguiſhed: ſo that the ſupreme power being lodged only in the conſuls and ſenate, the govern-
