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OF POLITICAL THEORIES. 311attribute those violent revolutions which caused the ruinof more than one existing government, to these very speculations.The questions which I propose to examine " are, How thespirit of inquiry with regard to distinctions in the forms ofgovernment first arose in modern Europe?" "How thisbecame the source of political reasoning ?" "How" this againformed the base of abstract theories " ? What practicalinfluence the latter exerted generally ;and what in particular upon the late revolutions ? "With these another, andthat of the highest practical importance, becomes naturallyfor the maintenance ofassociated, viz. " What is requisitethe monarchical principlein constitutional governments?"In this case the inquiry will be directed only to the " consti1not to the administration, of" powerin the differentno thinking man, however, can regard this subjectwith indifference I :only hope that the mode in which it istution,*states "treated may be equal to its importance !It might at first sight appear as thoughactual historywould be a superfluous labour ;a reference tospeculation., itmay be urged, arose of itself, and was independent of reality.Why then turn to it for assistance? We shall soon, however, perceive that this was not the case ;and that, if thespirit of political speculation did rise above the politics ofthe day,it was from the latter that it derived its origin, andthat it never became wholly independent of them. Thesequestions, therefore, will admit of no other solution thanwhat may be obtained by connecting them with history,and drawing our answers, in part at least, from it.In order to create a spirit of political speculationit is necessary that there should be some outward stimulant, as wellis a considerable degree of philosophical education in thewhom itispeople amongto arise.The external causes which induce thought and argumentm these subjects, are straggles,when such take place, withegard to the forms of the constitution. The neighbourhood>f various states governed in various manners, with the reationsand contrasts between them and above all, the formtionof new states by colonization.If to these qualifications,habits of philosophical inquiry