1818. Sept. 6.

Things as they are

§. Best why last

2

In the course of this contest, the party which within the arch of the confederacy feels /finds/ itself weakest, will ever and anon by the sense of this weakness be led to look for support from without: a sort of appeal may thus come to be made to the body of the people. But vain would /will/ be the hope of gaining support from the people unaccompanied unless more or less is done towards giving satisfaction to the people. Hence[?] this same mitigation may arise to the rigour with which of course the power would otherwise be exercised.

Without contention, […?] was concluded by war and conquest anarchy can never have been converted /made to give way /place// into Monarchy. This Monarchy is at first the power exercised by a /an irresponsible/ Captain General over the army /Commander over Soldiers/ under his command. While /So long/ as the army is in the field in the presence of an enemy the necessity of an obedience /obsequiousness/ without reserve, of an authority without limitation is presently felt: all bodies of men in which an arrangement thus simple has failed of taking place must have mouldered away before they have ripened into Monarchies. The warfare, and the land the most substantial and durable fruit of it divided, the members of the embattled lust was of course dispersed, each subordinate chieftain settling with his followers upon the spot which fell to his share. By mere dispersion the habit of constant and universal obedience to one and the same chief, was now of necessity made to cease. In an age of letters /of printing/ such as the present, local distance be it ever so wide is no bar to dependence: to universal habitual, constant and ever continued dependence. A prosperous[?] soldier was the first of Kings.

Le premier qui fut Roi fut un soldat heureux, says the French Poet: instructive truth could not be better expressed in words.