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The Spirit of the Laws

  
[title page]
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The Translator to the Reader
  
CONTENTS
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PREFACE
  
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Book I. Of Laws in General.
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Book II. Of Laws Directly Derived from the Nature of Government.
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Book III. Of the Principles of the Three Kinds of Government.
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Book IV. That the Laws of Education Ought to Be in Relation to the Principles of Government.
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Book V. That the Laws Given by the Legislator Ought to Be in Relation to the Principle of Government.
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Book VI. Consequences of the Principles of Different Governments with Respect to the Simplicity of Civil and Criminal Laws, the Form of Judgments, and the Inflicting of Punishments.
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Book VII. Consequences of the Different Principles of the Three Governments with Respect to Sumptuary Laws, Luxury, and the Condition of Women.
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Book VIII. Of the Corruption of the Principles of the Three Governments.
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Book IX., Of Laws in the Relation They Bear to a Defensive Force.
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Book X. Of Laws in the Relation They Bear to Offensive Force.
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Book XI. Of the Laws Which Establish Political Liberty, with Regard to the Consti- tution.
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Book XII. Of the Laws That Form Political Liberty, in Relation to the Subject.
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Book XIII. Of the Relation Which the Levying of Taxes and the Greatness of the Public Revenues Bear to Liberty.
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Book XIV. Of Laws in Relation to the Nature of the Climate.
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Book XV. In What Manner the Laws of Civil Slavery Relate to the Nature of the Climate.
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Book XVI. How the Laws of Domestic Slavery Bear a Relation to the Nature of the Climate.
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Book XVII., How the Laws of Political Servitude Bear a Relation to the Nature of the Climate.
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Book XVIII. Of Laws in the Relation They Bear to the Nature of the Soil.
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Book XIX. Of Laws in Relation to the Principles Which Form the General Spirit, Morals, and Customs of a Nation.
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Book XX. Of Laws in Relation to Commerce, Considered in its Nature and Distinctions.
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Book XXI. Of Laws in relation to Commerce, considered in the Revolutions it has met with in the World.
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Book XXII. Of Laws in Relation to the Use of Money.
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Book XXIII. Of Laws in the Relation They Bear to the Number of Inhabitants.
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Book XXIV. Of Laws in relation to Religion Considered in Itself, and in its Doctrines.
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1. Of Religion in General.
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2. A Paradox of M. Bayle's.
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3. That a moderate Government is most agreeable to the Christian Religion, and a despotic Government to the Mahometan.
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4. Consequences from the Character of the Christian Religion, and that of the Mahometan.
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5. That the Catholic Religion is most agreeable to a Monarchy, and the Protestant to a Republic.
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6. Another of M. Bayle's Paradoxes.
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7. Of the Laws of Perfection in Religion.
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8. Of the Connection between the moral Laws and those of Religion.
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9. Of the Essenes.
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10. Of the Sect of Stoics.
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11. Of Contemplation.
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12. Of Penances.
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13. Of inexpiable Crimes.
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14. In what Manner Religion has an Influence on Civil Laws.
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15. How false Religions are sometimes corrected by the Civil Laws.
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16. How the Laws of Religion correct the Inconveniences of a political Constitution.
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17. The same Subject continued.
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18. How the Laws of Religion have the Effect of Civil Laws.
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19. That it is not so much the Truth or Falsity of a Doctrine which renders it useful or pernicious to Men in civil Government, as the Use or Abuse of it.
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20. The same Subject continued.
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21. Of the Metempsychosis.
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22. That it is dangerous for Religion to inspire an Aversion for Things in themselves indifferent.
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23. Of Festivals.
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24. Of the local Laws of Religion.
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25. The Inconvenience of transplanting a Religion from one Country to another.
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26. The same Subject continued.
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Book XXV. Of Laws in Relation to the Establishment of Religion and its External Polity.
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Book XXVI. Of Laws in Relation to the Order of Things Which They Determine.
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Book XXVII. Of the Origin and Revolutions of the Roman Laws on Successions.
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Book XXVIII. Of the Origin and Revolutions of the Civil Laws among the French.
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Book XXIX. Of the Manner of Composing Laws.
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Book XXX. Theory of the Feudal Laws among the Franks in the Relation They Bear to the Establishment of the Monarchy.
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Book XXXI. Theory of the Feudal Laws among the Franks, in the Relation They Bear to the Revolutions of their Monarchy.

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5.13. 13. An Idea of Despotic Power.

When the savages of Louisiana are desirous of fruit, they cut the tree to the root, and gather the fruit. [35] This is an emblem of despotic government.

[35]

"Edifying Letters," col. ii, p. 315.

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