The third Principle of inevitable Destruction, which seems to have been inwrought into the very Essence of the Roman Republic, was the fatal Principle of Change: This is a Cause not so obvious; and therefore may require a farther Investigation.
Montesquieu hath justly observed, that one Cause of the Roman Greatness was "their adopting any Institution or Custom of other Nations whom they conquer'd, provided it was better than their own.[1]" It seems to have escaped the Observation of this great Writer, that the same Principle of Adoption, carried through every Period of the Republic, led the Way to its final Ruin.
For altho' in the early Periods, when Manners were simple, and concurrent Principles were strong, this Spirit of Adoption was confined to Customs that were better than their own; yet in the succeeding Pe-
- ↑ Grandeur, &c. C. i. ii.
