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E have said that the laws were the particular and precise institutions of a legislator, and manners and customs the institutions of a nation in general. From hence it follows, that when these manners and customs are to be changed, it ought not to be done by laws; this would have too much the air of tyranny: it would be better to change them by introducing other manners and other customs.

Thus when a prince would make great alterations in his kingdom, he should reform by laws what is established by laws, and change by customs what is established by customs; for it is very bad policy to change by laws, what ought to be changed by customs.

The law which obliged the Muscovites to cut off their beards, and to shorten their cloaths, and the rigour wirhwith [sic] which Peter I. made them crop even to the knees, the long cloaks of those who entered into the cities, were instances of tyranny. There are means that may be made use of to prevent crimes, these are punishments: there are those for changing our customs, these are examples.

The facility and ease with which this nation has been polished, plainly shews that this prince had a worse opinion of his people than they deserved, and that they were not brutes though he was pleased to call them so. The violent measures which he