people, but have conſtantly aimed at an impoſſibility, that of ballancing an ariſtocratical by a democratical aſſembly, without the aid of a third power.
LETTER XVIII.
LUCCA.
My dear Sir,
THE government of this republic is ſaid to be purely ariſtocratical; yet the ſupreme power is lodged in the hands of two hundred and forty nobles, with the chief magiſtrate at their head, who is called confalloniero, or ſtandard-bearer, and has the executive power. This magiſtrate is aſſiſted by nine counſellors, called amziani, whoſe dignity laſts but nine months; he has a life-guard of ſixty Swiſs, and lives in the republic's palace, as do his counſellors, at the public expence: after ſix years he may be rechoſen. The election of all officers is decided in the ſenate by ballot.
GENOA.
The legiſlative authority of Genoa is lodged in the great ſenate, conſiſting of ſeniors, or the doge and twelve other members, with four hundred noblemen and principal citizens, annually elected. All matters of ſtate are tranſacted by
