Machiavelli, for not informing us how states were formed, and how men came to be princes; an enquiry superfluous in "The Prince," and which our our author had treated in his Reflections on Livy, which I shall here translate, to oblige those of the royal commentator's opinion.
"Chance gave birth to every species of government amongst men. The first inhabitants were few in number, and lived during a period, dispersed, and like the beasts of the forest; but the human race increasing, they felt the necessity of uniting for their mutual defence; for which purpose, they chose the strongest and most courageous among them, and placing him at their head, promised to obey him. At the period when the pact of society was first formed, mankind began to distinguish what was good and right, from what was bad and wrong. When a man injured his benefactor, two sentiments instantly filled every bosom-hatred for the ingrate, and love for the benevolent man. They blamed the former, and honoured the more those
