BookXXIX。OftheMannerofComposingLaws1。OftheSpiritofaLegislator。Isayit，andmethinksIhaveundertakenthisworkwithnootherviewthantoproveit，thespiritofalegislatoroughttobethatofmoderation；political，likemoralgood，lyingalwaysbetweentwoextremes。[1]Letusproduceanexample。
Thesetformsofjusticearenecessarytoliberty，butthenumberofthemmightbesogreatastobecontrarytotheendoftheverylawsthatestablishedthem；processeswouldhavenoend；propertywouldbeuncertain；thegoodsofoneofthepartieswouldbeadjudgedtotheotherwithoutexamining，ortheywouldbothberuinedbyexaminingtoomuch。
Thecitizenswouldlosetheirlibertyandsecurity，theaccuserswouldnolongerhaveanymeanstoconvict，northeaccusedtojustifythemselves。
2。ThesameSubjectcontinued。Cecilius，inAulusGellius，[2]speakingofthelawoftheTwelveTableswhichpermittedthecreditortocuttheinsolventdebtorintopieces，justifiesitevenbyitscruelty，whichhinderedpeoplefromborrowingbeyondtheirabilityofpaying。[3]Shallthenthecruellestlawsbethebest？Shallgoodnessconsistinexcess，andalltherelationsofthingsbedestroyed？
3。ThattheLawswhichseemtodeviatefromtheViewsoftheLegislatorarefrequentlyagreeabletothem。ThelawofSolonwhichdeclaredthosepersonsinfamouswhoespousednosideinaninsurrectionseemedveryextraordinary；butweoughttoconsiderthecircumstancesinwhichGreecewasatthattime。Itwasdividedintoverysmallstates；andtherewasreasontoapprehendlestinarepublictornbyintestinedivisionsthesoberestpartshouldkeepretired，inconsequenceofwhichthingsmightbecarriedtoextremity。
Intheseditionsraisedinthosepettystatesthebulkofthecitizenseithermadeorengagedinthequarrel。Inourlargemonarchiespartiesareformedbyafew，andthepeoplechoosetolivequietly，Inthelattercaseitisnaturaltocallbacktheseditioustothebulkofthecitizens，andnotthesetotheseditious；intheotheritisnecessarytoobligethesmallnumberofprudentpeopletoenteramongtheseditious；itisthusthefermentationofoneliquormaybestoppedbyasingledropofanother。
4。OftheLawscontrarytotheViewsoftheLegislator。Therearelawssolittleunderstoodbythelegislatorastobecontrarytotheveryendheproposed。ThosewhomadethisregulationamongtheFrench，thatwhenoneofthetwocompetitorsdiedthebeneficeshoulddevolvetothesurvivor，hadinview，withoutdoubt，theextinctionofquarrels；buttheveryreversefallsout；weseetheclergyatvarianceeveryday，andlikeEnglishmastiffsworryingoneanothertodeath。
5。ThesameSubjectcontinued。ThelawIamgoingtospeakofistobefoundinthisoathpreservedby？schines：[4]\"IswearthatIwillneverdestroyatownoftheAmphictyones，andthatIwillnotdivertthecourseofitsrunningwaters；ifanynationshallpresumetodosuchathing，Iwilldeclarewaragainstthemandwilldestroytheirtowns。\"
Thelastarticleofthislaw，whichseemstoconfirmthefirst，isreallycontrarytoit。AmphictyoniswillingthattheGreektownsshouldneverbedestroyed，andyethislawpavesthewayfortheirdestruction。
InordertoestablishaproperlawofnationsamongtheGreeks，theyoughttohavebeenaccustomedearlytothinkitabarbarousthingtodestroyaGreektown；consequentlytheyoughtnoteventoruinthedestroyers。Amphictyon’slawwasjust，butitwasnotprudent；thisappearsevenfromtheabusemadeofit。DidnotPhilipassumethepowerofdemolishingtowns，underthepretenceoftheirhavinginfringedthelawsoftheGreeks？Amphictyonmighthaveinflictedotherpunishments；
hemighthaveordained，forexample，thatacertainnumberofthemagistratesofthedestroyingtown，orofthechiefsoftheinfringingarmy，shouldbepunishedwithdeath；thatthedestroyingnationshouldceaseforawhiletoenjoytheprivilegesoftheGreeks；thattheyshouldpayafinetillthetownwasrebuilt。Thelawought，aboveallthings，toaimatthereparationofdamages。
6。TheLawswhichappearthesamehavenotalwaysthesameEffect。C？sarmadealawtoprohibitpeoplefromkeepingabovesixtysestercesintheirhouses。[5]ThislawwasconsideredatRomeasextremelyproperforreconcilingthedebtorstotheircreditors，because，byobligingtherichtolendtothepoor，theyenabledthelattertopaytheirdebts。A
lawofthesamenaturemadeinFranceatthetimeoftheSystemprovedextremelyfatal，becauseitwasenactedunderamostfrightfulsituation。Afterdeprivingpeopleofallpossiblemeansoflayingouttheirmoney，theystrippedthemevenofthelastresourceofkeepingitathome，whichwasthesameastakingitfromthembyopenviolence。
C？sar’slawwasintendedtomakethemoneycirculate；theFrenchminister’sdesignwastodrawallthemoneyintoonehand。Theformergaveeitherlandsormortgagesonprivatepeopleforthemoney；thelatterproposedinlieuofmoneynothingbuteffectswhichwereofnovalue，andcouldhavenonebytheirverynature，becausethelawcompelledpeopletoacceptofthem。
7。ThesameSubjectcontinued。NecessityofcomposingLawsinaproperManner。ThelawofostracismwasestablishedatAthens，atArgos，[6]andatSyracuse。AtSyracuseitwasproductiveofathousandmischiefs，becauseitwasimprudentlyenacted。Theprincipalcitizensbanishedoneanotherbyholdingtheleafofafig—treeintheirhands，sothatthosewhohadanykindofmeritwithdrewfrompublicaffairs。[7]AtAthens，wherethelegislatorwassensibleoftheproperextentandlimitsofhislaw，ostracismprovedanadmirableregulation。Theynevercondemnedmorethanonepersonatatime；andsuchanumberofsuffrageswererequisiteforpassingthissentencethatitwasextremelydifficultforthemtobanishapersonwhoseabsencewasnotnecessarytothestate。[8]
Thepowerofbanishingwasexercisedonlyeveryfifthyear：andindeed，astheostracismwasdesignedagainstnonebutgreatpersonageswhothreatenedthestatewithdanger，itoughtnottohavebeenthetransactionofeveryday。
8。ThatLawswhichappearthesamewerenotalwaysmadethroughthesameMotive。InFrancetheyhavereceivedmostoftheRomanlawsonsubstitutions，butthroughquiteadifferentmotivefromtheRomans。
Amongthelattertheinheritancewasaccompaniedwithcertainsacrifices[9]whichweretobeperformedbytheinheritorandwereregulatedbythepontificallaw；henceitwasthattheyreckoneditadishonourtodiewithoutheirs，thattheymadeslavestheirheirs，andthattheydevisedsubstitutions。Ofthiswehaveaverystrongproofinthevulgarsubstitution，whichwasthefirstinvented，andtookplaceonlywhentheheirappointeddidnotacceptoftheinheritance。Itsviewwasnottoperpetuatetheestateinafamilyofthesamename，buttofindsomebodythatwouldacceptofit。
9。ThattheGreekandRomanLawspunishedSuicide，butnotthroughthesameMotive。Aman，saysPlato，whohaskilledonenearlyrelatedtohim，thatis，himself，notbyanorderofthemagistrate，nottoavoidignominy，butthroughpusillanimityshallbepunished。[10]TheRomanlawpunishedthisactionwhenitwasnotcommittedthroughpusillanimity，throughwearinessoflife，throughimpatienceinpain，butfromacriminaldespair。TheRomanlawacquittedwheretheGreekcondemned，andcondemnedwheretheotheracquitted。
Plato’slawwasformedupontheLaced？monianinstitutions，wheretheordersofthemagistratewereabsolute，whereshamewasthegreatestofmiseries，andpusillanimitythegreatestofcrimes。TheRomanshadnolongerthoserefinedideas；theirswasonlyafiscallaw。
Duringthetimeoftherepublic，therewasnolawatRomeagainstsuicides；thisactionisalwaysconsideredbytheirhistoriansinafavourablelight，andwenevermeetwithanypunishmentinflicteduponthosewhocommittedit。
Underthefirstemperors，thegreatfamiliesofRomewerecontinuallydestroyedbycriminalprosecutions。Thecustomwasthenintroducedofpreventingjudgmentbyavoluntarydeath。Inthistheyfoundagreatadvantage：theyhadanhonourableinterment，andtheirwillswereexecuted，becausetherewasnolawagainstsuicides。[11]Butwhentheemperorsbecameasavariciousascruel，theydeprivedthosewhodestroyedthemselvesofthemeansofpreservingtheirestatesbyrenderingitcriminalforapersontomakeawaywithhimselfthroughacriminalremorse。
WhatIhavebeensayingofthemotiveoftheemperorsissotrue，thattheyconsentedthattheestatesofsuicidesshouldnotbeconfiscatedwhenthecrimeforwhichtheykilledthemselveswasnotpunishedwithconfiscation。[12]
10。ThatLawswhichseemcontraryproceedsometimesfromthesameSpirit。Inourtimewegivesummonstopeopleintheirownhouses；butthiswasnotpermittedamongtheRomans。[13]
Asummonswasaviolentaction，[14]andakindofwarrantforseizingthebody；[15]henceitwasnomoreallowedtosummonapersoninhisownhousethanitisnowallowedtoarrestapersoninhisownhousefordebt。
BoththeRomanandourlawsadmitofthisprinciplealike，thateverymanoughttohavehisownhouseforanasylum，whereheshouldsuffernoviolence。[16]
11。HowtocomparetwodifferentSystemsofLaws。InFrancethepunishmentforfalsewitnessesiscapital；inEnglanditisnot。Now，tobeabletojudgewhichofthesetwolawsisthebest，wemustaddthatinFrancetherackisusedforcriminals，butnotinEngland；thatinFrancetheaccusedisnotallowedtoproducehiswitnesses，andthattheyveryseldomadmitofwhatarecalledjustifyingcircumstancesinfavouroftheprisoner；inEnglandtheyallowofwitnessesonbothsides。ThesethreeFrenchlawsformacloseandwell—connectedsystem；
andsodothethreeEnglishlaws。ThelawofEngland，whichdoesnotallowoftherackingofcriminals，hasbutverylittlehopeofdrawingfromtheaccusedaconfessionofhiscrime；forthisreasonitinviteswitnessesfromallparts，anddoesnotventuretodiscouragethembythefearofacapitalpunishment。TheFrenchlaw，whichhasoneresourcemore，isnotafraidofintimidatingthewitnesses；onthecontrary，reasonrequirestheyshouldbeintimidated；itlistensonlytothewitnessesononeside，whicharethoseproducedbytheattorney—general，andthefateoftheaccuseddependsentirelyontheirtestimony。[17]ButinEnglandtheyadmitofwitnessesonbothsides，andtheaffairisdiscussedinsomemeasurebetweenthem；consequentlyfalsewitnessistherelessdangerous，theaccusedhavingaremedyagainstthefalsewitnesswhichhehasnotinFrance。Wherefore，todeterminewhichofthosesystemsismostagreeabletoreason，wemusttakethemeachasawholeandcomparethemintheirentirety。
12。ThatLawswhichappearthesamearesometimesreallydifferent。TheGreekandRomanlawsinflictedthesamepunishmentonthereceiverasonthethief；[18]theFrenchlawdoesthesame。Theformeractedrationally，butthelatterdoesnot。AmongtheGreeksandRomansthethiefwascondemnedtoapecuniarypunishment，whichoughtalsotobeinflictedonthereceiver；foreverymanthatcontributesinwhatshapesoevertoadamageisobligedtorepairit。Butasthepunishmentoftheftiscapitalwithus，thereceivercannotbepunishedlikethethiefwithoutcarryingthingstoexcess。Areceivermayactinnocentlyonathousandoccasions：thethiefisalwaysculpable；onehinderstheconvictionofacrime，theothercommitsit；inonethewholeispassive，theotherisactive；thethiefmustsurmountmoreobstacles，andhissoulmustbemorehardenedagainstthelaws。
Thecivilianshavegonefurther；theylookuponthereceiverasmoreodiousthanthethief，[19]forwereitnotforthereceiverthetheft，saythey，couldnotbelongconcealed。Butthisagainmightberightwhentherewasonlyapecuniarypunishment；theaffairinquestionwasadamagedone，andthereceiverwasgenerallybetterabletorepairit；
butwhenthepunishmentbecamecapital，theyoughttohavebeendirectedbyotherprinciples。
13。ThatwemustnotseparateLawsfromtheEndforwhichtheyweremade：oftheRomanLawsonTheft。Whenathiefwascaughtintheact，thiswascalledbytheRomansamanifesttheft；whenhewasnotdetectedtillsometimeafterwards，itwasanon—manifesttheft。
ThelawoftheTwelveTablesordainedthatamanifestthiefshouldbewhippedwithrodsandcondemnedtoslaveryifhehadattainedtheageofpuberty；oronlywhippedifhewasnotofripeage；butasforthenonmanifestthief，hewasonlycondemnedtoafineofdoublethevalueofwhathehadstolen。
WhenthePorcianlawsabolishedthecustomofwhippingthecitizenswithrods，andofreducingthemtoslavery，themanifestthiefwascondemnedtoapaymentoffourfold，andtheystillcontinuedtocondemnthenon—manifestthieftoapaymentofdouble。[20]
Itseemsveryoddthattheselawsshouldmakesuchadifferenceinthequalityofthosetwocrimes，andinthepunishmentstheyinflicted。And，indeed，whetherthethiefwasdetectedeitherbeforeorafterhehadcarriedthestolengoodstotheplaceintended，thiswasacircumstancewhichdidnotalterthenatureofthecrime。IdonotatallquestionthatthewholetheoryoftheRomanlawsinrelationtotheftwasborrowedfromtheLaced？monianinstitutions。Lycurgus，withaviewofrenderingthecitizensdextrousandcunning，ordainedthatchildrenshouldbepractisedinthieving，andthatthosewhowerecaughtintheactshouldbeseverelywhipped。ThisoccasionedamongtheGreeks，andafterwardsamongtheRomans，agreatdifferencebetweenamanifestandanon—manifesttheft。[21]
AmongtheRomans，aslavewhohadbeenguiltyofstealingwasthrownfromtheTarpeianrock。HeretheLaced？monianinstitutionswereoutofthequestion；thelawsofLycurgusinrelationtotheftwerenotmadeforslaves；todeviatefromtheminthisrespectwasinrealityconformingtothem。
AtRome，whenapersonofunripeagehappenedtobecaughtintheact，thepr？tororderedhimtobewhippedwithrodsaccordingtohispleasure，aswaspractisedatSparta。Allthishadamoreremoteorigin。
TheLaced？monianshadderivedtheseusagesfromtheCretans；andPlato，[22]whowantstoprovethattheCretaninstitutionsweredesignedforwar，citesthefollowing，namely，thepowerofbearingpaininindividualcombats，andintheftswhichhavetobeconcealed。
Asthecivillawsdependonthepoliticalinstitutions，becausetheyaremadeforthesamesociety，wheneverthereisadesignofadoptingthecivillawofanothernation，itwouldbepropertoexaminebeforehandwhethertheyhaveboththesameinstitutionsandthesamepoliticallaw。
ThuswhentheCretanlawsontheftwereadoptedbytheLaced？monians，astheirconstitutionandgovernmentwereadoptedatthesametime，theselawswereequallyreasonableinbothnations。ButwhentheywerecarriedfromLaced？montoRome，astheydidnotfindtherethesameconstitution，theywerealwaysthoughtstrange，andhadnomannerofconnectionwiththeothercivillawsoftheRomans。
14。ThatwemustnotseparatetheLawsfromtheCircumstancesinwhichtheyweremade。ItwasdecreedbyalawatAthensthatwhenthecitywasbesieged，alltheuselesspeopleshouldbeputtodeath。[23]Thiswasanabominablepoliticallaw，inconsequenceofanabominablelawofnations。AmongtheGreeks，theinhabitantsofatowntakenlosttheircivillibertyandweresoldasslaves。Thetakingofatownimplieditsentiredestruction，whichisthesourcenotonlyofthoseobstinatedefences，andofthoseunnaturalactions，butlikewiseofthoseshockinglawswhichtheysometimesenacted。
TheRomanlawsordainedthatphysiciansshouldbepunishedforneglectorunskilfulness。[24]Inthosecases，ifthephysicianwasapersonofanyfortuneorrank，hewasonlycondemnedtodeportation，butifhewasofalowconditionhewasputtodeath。Byourinstitutionsitisotherwise。TheRomanlawswerenotmadeunderthesamecircumstancesasours：atRomeeveryignorantpretenderintermeddledwithphysic；butamongus，physiciansareobligedtogothrougharegularcourseofstudy，andtotaketheirdegrees，forwhichreasontheyaresupposedtounderstandtheirprofession。
15。ThatsometimesitispropertheLawshouldamenditself。ThelawoftheTwelveTablesallowedpeopletokillanight—thiefaswellasaday—thief，[25]ifuponbeingpursuedheattemptedtomakeadefence；butitrequiredthatthepersonwhokilledthethiefshouldcryoutandcallhisfellow—citizens。Thisisindeedwhatthoselaws，whichpermitpeopletodojusticetothemselves，oughtalwaystorequire。Itisthecryofinnocencewhichintheverymomentoftheactioncallsinwitnessesandappealstojudges。Thepeopleoughttotakecognizanceoftheaction，andattheveryinstantofitsbeingdone；aninstantwheneverythingspeaks，evenair，countenance，passions，silence；andwheneverywordeithercondemnsorabsolves。Alawwhichmaybecomesoopposedtothesecurityandlibertyofthecitizensoughttobeexecutedintheirpresence。[26]
16。ThingstobeobservedinthecomposingofLaws。Theywhohaveageniussufficienttoenablethemtogivelawstotheirown，ortoanothernation，oughttobeparticularlyattentivetothemannerofformingthem。
Thestyleoughttobeconcise。ThelawsoftheTwelveTablesareamodelofconciseness；theverychildrenusedtolearnthembyheart。[27]
Justinian’sNovell？weresoverydiffusethattheywereobligedtoabridgethem。[28]
Thestyleshouldalsobeplainandsimple，adirectexpressionbeingbetterunderstoodthananindirectone。Thereisnomajestyatallinthelawsofthelowerempire；princesaremadetospeaklikerhetoricians。Whenthestyleoflawsisinflated，theyarelookedupononlyasaworkofparadeandostentation。
Itisanessentialarticlethatthewordsofthelawsshouldexciteineverybodythesameideas。CardinalRichelieu[29]agreedthataministermightbeaccusedbeforetheking，buthewouldhavetheaccuserpunishedifthefactsheprovedwerenotmattersofmoment。Thiswasenoughtohinderpeoplefromtellinganytruthwhatsoeveragainsttheminister，becauseamatterofmomentisentirelyrelative，andwhatmaybeofmomenttooneisnotsotoanother。
ThelawofHonoriuspunishedwithdeathanypersonthatpurchasedafreedmanasaslave，orthatgavehimmolestation。[30]Heshouldnothavemadeuseofsovagueanexpression；themolestationgivenamandependsentirelyonthedegreeofhissensibility。
Whenthelawhastoimposeapenalty，itshouldavoidasmuchaspossibletheestimatingitinmoney。Thevalueofmoneychangesfromathousandcauses，andthesamedenominationcontinueswithoutthesamething。EveryoneknowsthestoryofthatimpudentfellowatRome[31]whousedtogivethosehemetaboxontheear，andafterwardstenderedthemthefive—and—twentypenceofthelawoftheTwelveTables。
Whenthelawhasoncefixedtheideaofthings，itshouldneverreturntovagueexpressions。TheordinanceofLouisXIV[32]concerningcriminalmatters，afteranexactenumerationofthecausesinwhichthekingisimmediatelyconcerned，addsthesewords，\"andthosewhichinalltimeshavebeensubjecttothedeterminationoftheking’sjudges\"；thisagainrendersarbitrarywhathadjustbeenfixed。CharlesVIIsays[33]hehasbeeninformedthatthepartiesappealthree，four，andsixmonthsafterjudgment，contrarytothecustomofthekingdominacountrywherecustomprevailed；hethereforeordainsthattheyshallappealforthwith，unlesstherehappenstobesomefraudordeceitonthepartoftheattorney，[34]orunlesstherebeagreatorevidentcausetodischargetheappeal。Theendofthislawdestroysthebeginning，anditdestroysitsoeffectually，thattheyusedafterwardstoappealduringthespaceofthirtyyears。[35]
ThelawoftheLombardsdoesnotallowawomanthathastakenareligioushabit，[36]thoughshehasmadenovow，tomarry；because，saysthislaw，\"ifaspousewhohasbeencontractedtoawomanonlybyaringcannotwithoutguiltbemarriedtoanother，foramuchstrongerreasonthespouseofGodoroftheblessedVirgin。\"Now，Isay，thatinlawstheargumentsshouldbedrawnfromonerealitytoanother，andnotfromrealitytofigure，orfromfiguretoreality。
AlawenactedbyConstantine[37]ordainsthatthesingletestimonyofabishopshouldbesufficientwithoutlisteningtoanyotherwitnesses。
Thisprincetookaveryshortmethod；hejudgedofaffairsbypersons，andofpersonsbydignities。
Thelawsoughtnottobesubtle；theyaredesignedforpeopleofcommonunderstanding，notasanartoflogic，butastheplainreasonofafatherofafamily。
Whenthereisnonecessityforexceptionsandlimitationsinalaw，itismuchbettertoomitthem：detailsofthatkindthrowpeopleintonewdetails。
Noalterationshouldbemadeinalawwithoutsufficientreason。
Justinianordainedthatahusbandmightberepudiatedandyetthewifenotloseherportion，ifforthespaceoftwoyearshehadbeenincapableofconsummatingthemarriage。[38]Healteredhislawafterwards，andallowedthepoorwretchthreeyears。[39]Butinacaseofthatnaturetwoyearsareasgoodasthree，andthreearenotworthmorethantwo。
Whenalegislatorcondescendstogivethereasonofhislawitoughttobeworthyofitsmajesty。ARomanlawdecreesthatablindmanisincapabletoplead，becausehecannotseetheornamentsofthemagistracy。[40]Sobadareasonmusthavebeengivenonpurpose，whensuchanumberofgoodreasonswereathand。
Paul，thejurist，says[41]thatachildgrowsperfectintheseventhmonth，andthattheratioofPythagoras’numbersseemstoproveit。ItisveryextraordinarythattheyshouldjudgeofthosethingsbytheratioofPythagoras’numbers。
SomeFrenchlawyershaveassertedthatwhenthekingmadeanacquisitionofanewcountry，thechurchesbecamesubjecttotheRegale，becausetheking’scrownisround。Ishallnotexaminehereintotheking’srights，orwhetherinthiscasethereasonofthecivilorecclesiasticlawoughttosubmittothatofthelawofpolitics；Ishallonlysaythatthoseaugustrightsoughttobedefendedbygravemaxims。Wasthereeversuchathingknownastherealrightsofadignityfoundedonthefigureofthatdignity’ssign？
Davilasays[42]thatCharlesIXwasdeclaredofageintheparliamentofRouenatthecommencementofhisfourteenthyear，becausethelawsrequireeverymomentofthetimetobereckoned，incasesrelatingtotherestitutionandadministrationofaward’sestate；whereasitconsiderstheyearcommencedasayearcomplete，whenthecaseisconcerningtheacquisitionofhonours。Iamveryfarfromcensuringaregulationwhichhasbeenhithertoattendedwithnoinconvenience；I
shallonlynoticethatthereasonallegedisnotthetrueone；itisfalse，thatthegovernmentofanationisonlyanhonour。
Inpointofpresumption，thatofthelawisfarpreferabletothatoftheman。TheFrenchlawconsiderseveryactofamerchantduringthetendaysprecedinghisbankruptcyasfraudulent：[43]thisisthepresumptionofthelaw。TheRomanlawinflictedpunishmentsonthehusbandwhokepthiswifeaftershehadbeenguiltyofadultery，unlesshewasinducedtodoitthroughfearoftheeventofalawsuit，orthroughcontemptofhisownshame；thisisthepresumptionoftheman。Thejudgemusthavepresumedthemotivesofthehusband’sconduct，andmusthavedeterminedaveryobscureandambiguouspoint；whenthelawpresumes，itgivesafixedruletothejudge。
Plato’slaw，[44]asIhaveobservedalready，requiredthatapunishmentshouldbeinflictedonthepersonwhokilledhimselfnotwithadesignofavoidingshame，butthroughpusillanimity。Thislawwassofardefectivethatintheonlycaseinwhichitwasimpossibletodrawfromthecriminalanacknowledgmentofthemotiveuponwhichhehadacted，itrequiredthejudgetodetermineconcerningthesemotives。
Asuselesslawsdebilitatesuchasarenecessary，sothosethatmaybeeasilyeludedweakenthelegislation。Everylawoughttohaveitseffect，andnooneshouldbesufferedtodeviatefromitbyaparticularexception。
TheFalcidianlawordainedamongtheRomans，thattheheirshouldalwayshavethefourthpartoftheinheritance；anotherlawsufferedthetestatortoprohibittheheirfromretainingthisfourthpart。[45]Thisismakingajestofthelaws。TheFalcidianlawbecameuseless：forifthetestatorhadamindtofavourhisheir，thelatterhadnoneedoftheFalcidianlaw；andifhedidnotintendtofavourhim，heforbadhimtomakeuseofit。
Careshouldbetakenthatthelawsbewordedinsuchamannerasnottobecontrarytotheverynatureofthings。IntheproscriptionofthePrinceofOrange，PhilipIIpromisestoanymanthatwillkilltheprincetogivehim，orhisheirs，five—and—twentythousandcrowns，togetherwiththetitleofnobility；andthisuponthewordofaking，andasaservantofGod。Topromisenobilityforsuchanaction！toordainsuchanactioninthequalityofaservantofGod！Thisisequallysubversiveoftheideasofhonour，morality，andreligion。
Thereveryseldomhappenstobeanecessityofprohibitingathingwhichisnotbadunderpretenceofsomeimaginaryperfection。
Thereoughttobeacertainsimplicityandcandourinthelaws；madetopunishtheiniquityofmen，theythemselvesshouldbecladwiththerobesofinnocence。WefindinthelawoftheVisigoths[46]thatridiculousrequest，bywhichtheJewswereobligedtoeateverythingdressedwithpork，providedtheydidnoteattheporkitself。Thiswasaverygreatcruelty：theywereobligedtosubmittoalawcontrarytotheirown；andtheywereobligedtoretainnothingmoreoftheirownthanwhatmightserveasamarktodistinguishthem。
17。AbadMethodofgivingLaws。TheRomanEmperorsmanifestedtheirwill，likeourprinces，bydecreesandedicts；buttheypermitted，whichourprincesdonot，boththejudgesandprivatepeopletointerrogatethembylettersintheirseveraldifferences；andtheiranswerswerecalledrescripts。Thedecretalsofthepopesarerescripts，strictlyspeaking。Itisplainthatthisisabadmethodoflegislation。Thosewhothusapplyforlawsareimproperguidestothelegislator；thefactsarealwayswronglystated。JuliusCapitolinussays[47]thatTrajanoftenrefusedtogivethiskindofrescripts，lestasingledecision，andfrequentlyaparticularfavour，shouldbeextendedtoallcases。
Macrinushadresolvedtoabolishallthoserescripts；[48]hecouldnotbearthattheanswersofCommodus，Caracalla，andallthoseotherignorantprinces，shouldbeconsideredaslaws。Justinianthoughtotherwise，andhefilledhiscompilationwiththem。
IwouldadvisethosewhoreadtheRomanlawstodistinguishcarefullybetweenthissortofhypothesis，andtheSenatusConsulta，thePlebiscita，thegeneralconstitutionsoftheemperors，andallthelawsfoundedonthenatureofthings，onthefrailtyofwomen，theweaknessofminors，andthepublicutility。
18。OftheIdeasofUniformity。Therearecertainideasofuniformity，whichsometimesstrikegreatgeniuses（fortheyevenaffectedCharlemagne），butinfalliblymakeanimpressiononlittlesouls。Theydiscoverthereinakindofperfection，whichtheyrecognizebecauseitisimpossibleforthemnottoseeit；thesameauthorizedweights，thesamemeasuresintrade，thesamelawsinthestate，thesamereligioninallitsparts。Butisthisalwaysrightandwithoutexception？Istheevilofchangingconstantlylessthanthatofsuffering？Anddoesnotagreatnessofgeniusconsistratherindistinguishingbetweenthosecasesinwhichuniformityisrequisite，andthoseinwhichthereisanecessityfordifferences？InChinatheChinesearegovernedbytheChineseceremonialandtheTartarsbytheirs；andyetthereisnonationintheworldthataimssomuchattranquillity。Ifthepeopleobservethelaws，whatsignifiesitwhethertheselawsarethesame？