balanced the other.—This ſyſtem preſerved the Lacedemonians in liberty longer than any other people we have heard of ever enjoyed it.
All the three principal orders of government were found in the Roman commonwealth; everything was conſtituted and adminiſtered with that equality and propriety by theſe three, that it was not poſſible, even for a Roman citizen, to aſſert poſitively, whether the government, in the whole, was ariſtocratical, democratical, or monarchical. For when we caſt our eyes on the power of the conſuls, the government appeared entirely monarchical and kingly; when on that of the ſenate, ariſtocratical; and when any one conſidered the power of the people, it appeared plainly democratical.
The conſuls, when they are at Rome, and before they take the field, have the adminiſtration of all public affairs; for all other magiſtrates obey them, except the tribunes of the people: they introduce ambaſſadors into the ſenate they alſo propoſe to the ſenate thoſe ſubjects of debate that require immediate diſpatch; and are ſolely entruſted with the execution of the decrees: to them belongs the conſideration of all public affairs of which the people have cognizance, whom they are to aſſemble upon all occaſions, and lay before them the decrees of the ſenate, then purſue the reſolutions of the majority. They have almoſt an abſolute power in every thing that relates either to the preparations of war, or to the conduct of it in the field; for they may give what orders they pleaſe to their allies, and appoint the tribunes; they may raiſe forces, and enliſt thoſe who are proper for the ſervice: they alſo have a power, when in the field, of puniſhing any who ſerve under them; and of expending as much as they
