I。AstheposterityoftheFrankscomposeoneofthegreatestandmostenlightenednationsofEurope，thepowersoflearningandingenuityhavebeenexhaustedinthediscoveryoftheirunletteredancestors。Tothetalesofcredulityhavesucceededthesystemsoffancy。Everypassagehasbeensifted，everyspothasbeensurveyed，thatmightpossiblyrevealsomefainttracesoftheirorigin。IthasbeensupposedthatPannonia，^67thatGaul，thatthenorthernpartsofGermany，^68

　　gavebirthtothatcelebratedcolonyofwarriors。Atlengththemostrationalcritics，rejectingthefictitiousemigrationsofidealconquerors，haveacquiescedinasentimentwhosesimplicitypersuadesusofitstruth。^69Theysuppose，thatabouttheyeartwohundredandforty，^70anewconfederacywasformedunderthenameofFranks，bytheoldinhabitantsoftheLowerRhineandtheWeser。ThepresentcircleofWestphalia，theLandgraviateofHesse，andtheduchiesofBrunswickandLuneburg，weretheancientoftheChauciwho，intheirinaccessiblemorasses，defiedtheRomanarms；^71oftheCherusci，proudofthefameofArminius；oftheCatti，formidablebytheirfirmandintrepidinfantry；andofseveralothertribesofinferiorpowerandrenown。^72TheloveoflibertywastherulingpassionoftheseGermans；theenjoymentofittheirbesttreasure；thewordthatexpressedthatenjoyment，themostpleasingtotheirear。Theydeserved，theyassumed，theymaintainedthehonorableappellationofFranks，orFreemen；whichconcealed，thoughitdidnotextinguish，thepeculiarnamesoftheseveralstatesoftheconfederacy。^73Tacitconsent，andmutualadvantage，dictatedthefirstlawsoftheunion；itwasgraduallycementedbyhabitandexperience。TheleagueoftheFranksmayadmitofsomecomparisonwiththeHelveticbody；inwhicheverycanton，retainingitsindependentsovereignty，consultswithitsbrethreninthecommoncause，withoutacknowledgingtheauthorityofanysupremehead，orrepresentativeassembly。^74Buttheprincipleofthetwoconfederacieswasextremelydifferent。ApeaceoftwohundredyearshasrewardedthewiseandhonestpolicyoftheSwiss。Aninconstantspirit，thethirstofrapine，andadisregardtothemostsolemntreaties，disgracedthecharacteroftheFranks。

　　[Footnote67:VarioussystemshavebeenformedtoexplainadifficultpassageinGregoryofTours，l。ii。c。9。]

　　[Footnote68:TheGeographerofRavenna，i。11，bymentioningMauringania，ontheconfinesofDenmark，astheancientseatoftheFranks，gavebirthtoaningenioussystemofLeibritz。]

　　[Footnote69:SeeCluver。GermaniaAntiqua，l。iii。c。20。M。

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