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CONSTITUTIONS OF THE GRECIAN STATES. 113impossible for all to meet in the assemblies. But in citieswith a narrow territory,what could lead to such a form ;since neither distance nor numbers made it difficult for thecitizens to appear personally in the assemblies. It is true,that the alliances of several cities, as of the Boeotian or theAchaean, led to the idea of sending deputies to the assemblies; but in those meetings, the internal affairs of the confederates were never discussed ; they were reserved for theconsideration of each city and;the deliberations of thewhole body related only to general affairs with respect toforeign relations. But a true system of representation cannever be formed in that manner ;the true sphere of actionof a legislative body,is to be found in the internal affairs ofthe nation.It was therefore necessary to think of other means ofmeeting the danger apprehended from the rule of the populace; and those means were various. Aristotle expresslyremarks, 1that there were cities, in which no general assemblies of the citizens were held ;and only such citizens appeared, as had been expressly convoked or invited. Theseobviously formed a class of aristocratic governments. Buteven in the democracies, means 2were taken, partly to havethe important business transacted in smaller divisions, beforethe commons came to vote upon it ; partly to limit the subjects which were to be brought before them; partlytoreserve the revision, if not of all, yet of some of the decrees,to another peculiar board ;and partly,and most frequently,to name another deliberate assembly, whose dutyit was toconsider every thing which was to come before the commons, and so far to prepare the business, that nothing remained for the commons, but to accept or reject themeasures proposed.This assembly was called by the Greeks, a council (pov\