Page:Montesquieu - The spirit of laws.djvu/342

290 contrary practice. "The Czar Peter I., has to published a new edict, by which he forbids any of his subjefts to offer him a petition till after having presented it to two of his officers. In case of a refusal of justice they may present him a third, but upon pain of death if they are in the wrong. After this no one ever presumed to offer a petition to the Czar."

HE manners of a prince contribute as much as the laws themselves to liberty; like these he may transform men into beasts, and beasts into men. It he likes free and noble souls, he will have subjects; if he likes base and dastardly spirits, he will have slaves. Does he want to know the great art of ruling? Let him call honor and virtue around his person, let him invite personal merit. He may even sometimes cast an eye on talents and abilities. Let him not be afraid of those rivals who are called men of merit; he is their equal as soon as he loves them. Let him gain the hearts of his people without bringing their spirits into subjection. Let him render himself popular; he ought to be pleased with the affection of the lowest of his subjects, for they too are men. The common people require so very little deference, that it is fit they should be humoured; the infinite distance between the sovereign and them will surely prevent them from giving him any uneasiness. Let him be exorable to supplication, and resolute against demands; let him be Rh