ANTONIO PALAZZO COSENTIN.-"Discours du Gouvernment et de la Raison vraye D'Estat," 1611. This is a translation from the Italian. It contains a description of various kinds of government; points out the real causes which bring states into difficulties; shows the necessity of incorporating christianity with the state; the pernicious influence of national luxury; and maintains that a government should sedulously endeavour to frame all its public measures so as to preserve as great an equality among the citizens as possible. All these abstract positions the author strengthens by quotations from some of the most enlightened legislators of antiquity.

RENE DE LUSINGE. "De la Naissance, Durée, et Cheute des Estats, ou sont traittees plusiers notable Questions, sur l'Establissement des Empires et Monarchies," 1588. This treatise is directed more to the consideration of what may be termed the external means of creating and supporting the power of a state, than to the disquisition of abstract principles of policy. The work is divided into three books; namely, 1st,On the means of retaining an effective military force, and of the great importance of attending promptly and energetically to the civil business of government. 2nd, -Of the utility of religion as a political instrument, and of the means of avoiding all unnecessary causes of popular discontent; and the third on divers matters which hasten the downfal of states.

In the first chapter of the third book, on the causes of the decline and fall of states, the author's remarks are very excellent. excellent. He endeavours to show that it is always by some vicious mode of political misrule, long persevered in, that nations are precipitated to their

ruin; and that if rulers were more attentive to the true interests of their people, they would have a much longer lease of their dominions.

The author conceives that religious sentiment is indispensable to all states. It is the only security for the authority of the prince, as well as the rights of the people. All human obligation would be effaced from the minds of men, were there not a general idea of a divine being, who rules the destinies of our race. The entire current of ancient and modern history, most amply confirms the truth of this position.

PERE RIBADENEYZA.-"Traité de la Religion que doit suivre le Prince et des vertus qu'il doit avoir pour bien gouverner et conserver son etat contre la doctrine de Machiavel et des Politiques de notre tems," 1610. This work is from the pen of a Spanish Jesuit, and was translated into French by Antoine de Balingham, a native of St. Omer. In the first part of the work, the author affirms that history shows us that all states, no matter what was the particular form of their government, have found it necessary to call in the aid of religion to strengthen their hands. Without this assistance civil institutions would present but a scene of confusion and disorder.

GABRIEL NAUDE.-" Considerations sur les Coups d'Etat." The author maintains the doctrines of Machiavel, and pushes them to their greatest extent.

"Sommaire de la Felicité des Princes et Republiques," 1616, par F. D. E. F. This work contains an analysis of the ancient states and republics, and the author applies his remarks and illustrations to modern governments. His great aim is to draw lessons of wisdom from the experiences of ancient times, for the

purpose of guiding the conduct of modern statesmen and princes. The work is rare, and worth a perusal.

The

DOCTOR RICHER." De Ecclesiastica et Politica Potestate," 1611. This work is chiefly remarkable for some particular circumstances connected with its publication. The Council of Sens assembled at Paris in 1612, under the direction of Cardinal du Perron, for the sole purpose of condemning this book as an anonymous book. The assembled prelates decided that the work was anonymous, though it had the name of Doctor Richer affixed to it. The merits of the work were not entered into; but the sole ground of objection was that it appeared without a name. Council of Aix, in Provence, assembled the same year, and for the same purpose; and they did not forget the decision of their brethren at Paris as to its anonymous nature, though they assembled to condemn it upon other grounds. These grounds were, however, never stated to the assembly; but they confirmed the decision of the Parisian prelates, that the book was published without a name. This circumstance affords a sufficient indication of the general scope of the work, which is to place ecclesiastical power in a disadvantageous point of view.

M. A. PHEVENEAU. "Precepts d'Estat," 1627. This work is dedicated to the king of France, and the writer informs him that it contains such sound and wholesome truths, as a good, enlightened, and religious monarch as he was, would like to instil into the mind of his son, the heir to the crown. There is excellent advice contained in this book, if crowned heads would read it, and profit by it. But history does not show that royal pupils, in matters of politics,

have ever been very docile or apt scholars. They perish, not from the lack, but from a superfluity of advice. The author touches on almost every subject connected with the stability of a government, and the happiness and power of the people. He considers the latter as the nerves, and blood, and bones of the body politic.

"Les Politiques de Vincent Cabot," 1630. VINCENT CABOT, jurisconsul, was born at Toulouse in the sixteenth century. He applied himself particularly to jurisprudence, in the early part of his life. In his latter years he undertook an extensive work on the nature of political science generally; but he died before it was finished. His manuscripts were placed in the hands of a friend, who, after having corrected and revised them, put them to the press in their present shape. The work is divided into five books, and these again into many chapters. The author enters very fully into all the abstract principles of politics; the formation of governments; the nature and extent of sovereignty; the paramount dignity and importance of political science; of religion, its influence and offices in the state; of the appointment of magistrates; public assemblies of the people; of the abstract nature of monarchy; what are the causes of political corruption, the mutations of nations, and their rapid decline from wealth and power, to poverty and feebleness; the origin of treasons, seditions, and civil wars; of offensive and defensive wars; and of the appointment and duties of ambassadors. All these various topics are treated of with great acuteness and ability; and the writer displays a most profound knowledge of all the ancient forms of government in Greece and Rome.

Cabot's notion on the nature of the social contract, seems to be, that the power of the chief magistrate arises from the same source as the authority of a parent over his family. The two situations, he considers, are quite parallel; and this is the only key to the right solution of this knotty problem.

FRANCOIS SAUSSOVIN.-"Du governement et administration de divers Estats, Royaumes, et Republiques, tant anciennes que modernes," 1611. This work contains general observations on, and an analysis of, the governments of France, Spain, England, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Naples, Turkey, Persia, Tunis, Fezzan, Ancient Rome, the Papal Court, Athens, Sparta and Lacedemon, Venice, Genoa, Lucca, Switzerland, Nuremburgh, Regasa, Utopia, Egypt, and Ethiopia.

DE MOUCHEMBERT.-"Essais Politiques et Militaires," 1627. This is not a systematic treatise on politics, but only a collection of observations and remarks on various subjects, given under the form of axioms. There is a great fund of good sense observable in most of them; and the author displays considerable learning, and reading on political topics, of both an ancient and modern character. Many of the axioms are concisely and neatly expressed.

There was a small work surreptitiously printed and published in France, in 1650, called "Le Politique du Temps." There were many pirated editions of it, throughout the French provinces. The work treats of the power and authority of princes; of the several kinds of government; and of what really constitutes the liberty, and civil freedom, and independence of a nation. It is a very able and well-written performance.

MARCO-ANTONIO DE DOMINIS, Wrote his "De Repub