The royal authority is
a spring that ought to move with the greatest freedom and ease. The
Chinese boast of one of their emperors who governed, they say, like the
heavens, that is, by his example.
There are some cases in which a sovereign ought to exert the full
extent of his power; and others in which he should reduce it within
narrower limits. The sublimity of administration consists in knowing the
proper degree of power which should be exerted on different occasions.
The whole felicity of monarchies consists in the opinion which the
subjects entertain of the lenity of the government. A weak minister is
ever ready to remind us of our slavery. But granting, even, that we are
slaves, he should endeavour to conceal our misery from us. All he can
say or write is that the prince is uneasy, that he is surprised, and
that he will redress all grievances. There is a certain ease in
commanding; the prince ought only to encourage, and let the laws
menace.
[74]
