CHAP. XXX.: The same Subject continued.

NOTHING but the very excess and rage of despotic power ordained that the father’s disgrace should drag after it that of his wife and children: they are wretched enough already, without being criminals. Besides, the prince ought to leave suppliants or mediators between himself and the accused, to assuage his wrath, or to inform his justice.

It is an excellent custom of the Maldavians See Francis Pirard. ^†466, that, when a lord is disgraced, he goes every day to pay his court to the king, till he is taken again into favour: his presence disarms the prince’s indignation.

In some despotic governments As at present in Persia, according to sir John Chardin: this custom is very ancient. They put Cavades, says Procopius, into the castle of oblivion. There is a law which forbids any one to speak of those who are shut up, or even to mention their name. ^†467 they have a notion that it is trespassing against the respect due to their prince to speak to him in favour of a person in disgrace. These princes seem to use all their endeavours to deprive themselves of the virtue of clemency.

Arcadius and Honorius, by a law The fifth law in the cod. ad leg. Jul. Maj. ^†468 on which we have already descanted In the 8th chapter of this book. ^†469, positively declare that they will shew no favour to those who shall presume to petition them in behalf of the guilty Frederic copied this law in the Constitutions of Naples, book 1. ^†470. This was a very bad law indeed, since it is bad even under a despotic government.

The custom of Persia, which permits every man that pleases to leave the kingdom is excellent; and, though the contrary practice derives its origin from

despotic power, which has ever considered the subjects as slaves In monarchies there is generally a law which forbids those who are invested with public employments to go out of the kingdom without the prince’s leave. This law ought to be established also in republics: but, in those that have particular institutions, the prohibition ought to be general, in order to prevent the introduction of foreign manners. ^†471, and those who quit the country as fugitives, yet the Persian practice is useful even to a despotic government, because the apprehension of people’s withdrawing for debt restrains or moderates the oppressions of bashaws and extortioners.