pleaſe of the public money, being always attended by a quæſtor for that purpoſe, whoſe duty it is to yield a ready obedience to all their commands. So that whoever caſts his eyes on this branch, may with reaſon affirm, that the government is merely monarchical and kingly.
The ſenate have, in the firſt place, the command of the public money; for they have the conduct of all receipts and diſburſements; ſince the quæſtors cannot iſſue money for any particular ſervice without a decree of the ſenate, except thoſe ſums they pay by the direction of the conſuls.
It has the power over all diſburfements made by the cenſors, every fifth year, in erecting and repairing public buildings;—takes cognizance of all crimes committed in Italy, ſuch as treaſons, conſpiracies, poiſonings, and aſſaſſinations;—ſends embaſſies out of Italy to reconcile differences, uſe exhortations, ſignify commands, admit alliances, or declare war;—determines, when ambaſſadors come to Rome, in what manner they are to be treated, and the anſwer to be given them. For theſe reaſons, when a foreigner comes to Rome, in the abſence of the conſuls, the government appears to him purely ariſtocratical.
There is ſtill a moſt conſiderable ſhare in the government left for the people. They only have the power of diſtributing honours and puniſhments, to which alone both monarchies and commonwealths, in a word all human inſtitutions, owe their ſtability: for wherever the difference between rewards and puniſhments is not underſtood, or injudiciouſly applied, there nothing can be properly adminiſtered, ſince the worthy and unworthy are equally honoured!
They often take cognizance of thoſe cauſes where the fine is conſiderable, if the criminals are
