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masters to reduce again to slavery the ungrateful freedmen； the emperor declared that it was their duty to decide the affairs of individuals； and to make no general decree。
Much less can I determine what ought to be the regulations of a good republic in such an affair； this depends on too many circumstances。 Let us； however； make some reflections。
A considerable number of freedmen ought not suddenly to be made by a general law。 We known that among the Volsinienses＇37＇ the freedmen； becoming masters of the suffrages； enacted an abominable law； which gave them the right of lying the first night with the young women married to the free…born。
There are several ways of insensibly introducing new citizens into a republic。 The laws may favour the acquiring a peculium； and put slaves into a condition of buying their liberty： they may prescribe a term to servitude； like those of Moses； which limited that of the Hebrew slaves to six years。＇38＇ It is easy to enfranchise every year a certain number of those slaves who； by their age； health； or industry； are capable of getting a subsistence。 The evil may be even cured in its root； as a great number of slaves are connected with the several employments which are given them； to divide among the free…born a part of these employments； for example； commerce or navigation； is diminishing the number of slaves。
When there are many freedmen； it is necessary that the civil laws should determine what they owe to their patron； or that these duties should be fixed by the contract of enfranchisement。
It is certain that their condition should be more favoured in the civil than in the political state； because； even in a popular government； the power ought not to fall into the hands of the vulgar。
At Rome； where they had so many freedmen； the political laws with regard to them were admirable。 They gave them very little； and excluded them almost from nothing： they had even a share in the legislature； but the resolutions they were capable of taking were almost of no weight。 They might bear a part in the public offices； and even in the dignity of the priesthood；＇39＇ but this privilege was in some sort rendered useless by the disadvantages they had to encounter in the elections。 They had a right to enter into the army； but they were to be registered in a certain class of the census before they could be soldiers。 Nothing hindered the＇40＇ freedmen from being united by marriage with the families of the free…born； but they were not permitted to mix with those of the senator。 In short； their children were free…born； though they were not so themselves。
18。 Of Freedmen and Eunuchs。 Thus in a republican government it is frequently of advantage that the situation of the freedmen be but little below that of the free…born； and that the laws be calculated to remove a dislike of their condition。 But in a despotic government； where luxury and arbitrary power prevail； they have nothing to do in this respect； the freedmen generally finding themselves above the free…born。 They rule in the court of the prince； and in the palaces of the great； and as they study the foibles and not the virtues of their master； they lead him entirely by the former； not by the latter。 Such were the freedmen of Rome in the times of the emperors。
When the principal slaves are eunuchs； let never so many privileges be granted them； they can hardly be regarded as freedmen。 For as they are incapable of having a family of their own； they are naturally attached to that of another： and it is only by a kind of fiction that they are considered as citizens。
And yet there are countries where the magistracy is entirely in their hands。 〃In Tonquin；〃＇41＇ says Dampier；＇42＇ 〃all the mandarins； civil and military； are eunuchs。〃 They have no families； and though they are naturally avaricious； the master or the prince benefits in the end by this very passion。
Dampier tells us； too；＇43＇ that in this country the eunuchs cannot live without women； and therefore marry。 The law which permits their marriage may be founded partly on their respect for these eunuchs； and partly on their contempt of the fair sex。
Thus they are trusted with the magistracy； because they have no family； and permitted to marry； because they are magistrates。
Then it is that the sense which remains would fain supply that which they have lost； and the enterprises of despair become a kind of enjoyment。 So； in Milton； that spirit who has nothing left but desires； enraged at his degradation； would make use of his impotency itself。
We see in the history of China a great number of laws to deprive eunuchs of all civil and military employments； but they always returned to them again。 It seems as if the eunuchs of the east were a necessary evil。
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1。 Justinian； Institutes； i。
2。 Excepting a few cannibals。
3。 I mean slavery in a strict sense； as formerly among the Romans； and at present in our colonies。
4。 Biblioth。 Ang。； xiii； part II； art。 3。
5。 See Solis； History of the Conquest of Mexico； and Garcilasso de la Vega； History of the Conquest of Peru。
6。 Labat； New Voyage to the Isles of America； iv； p。 114； 1728； 12mo。
7。 Present State of Russia。
8。 Dampier； Voyages； iii。
9。 Politics； i。 5。
10。 As may be seen in the mines of Hartz； in Lower Saxony； and in those of Hungary。
11。 De Moribus Germanorum； 25。
12。 Tacitus； De Moribus Germanorum； 20； says the master is not to be distinguished from the slave by any delicacy of living。
13。 Sir John Chardin； Travels to Persia。
14。 Sir John Chardin； ii； in his description of the market of Izagour。
15。 Book i； tit。 32； § 5。
16。 The revolt of the Mamelukes was a different case； this was a body of the militia who usurped the empire。
17。 Law of the Visigoths； iii； tit。 1； § 1。
18。 Ibid。； v； tit。 7； § 20。
19。 Ibid。； v； tit。 2； § 9。
20。 Law of the Alemans； 5； § 3。
21。 Ibid。； § 5； per virtutem。
22。 〃Sicily；〃 says Florus； 〃suffered more in the Servile than in the Punic war。〃 iii。 19。
23。 See the whole title of the senat。 cons。 Sillan。； ff。
24。 Leg。 Si quis； § 12； ff。 de senat。 cons。 Sillan。
25。 When Antony commanded Eros to kill him； it was the same as commanding him to kill himself； because； if he had obeyed； he would have been punished as the murderer of his master。
26。 Leg。 i； § 22； ff。 de senat。 cons。 Sillan。
27。 Leg。 i； § 31； ff。 ibid。； xxix； tit。 5。
28。 Xiphilin； In Claudio。
29。 See Leg。 3； in Cod。； De Patria potestate； by the Emperor Alexander。
30。 Exod。； 21。 20； 21。
31。 Plutarch； On Superstition。
32。 See the constitution of Antoninus Pius； Institutes； i； tit。 7。
33。 Laws； Book ix。
34。 This was frequently the spirit of the laws of those nations who came out of Germany； as may be seen by their codes。
35。 Demosthenes； Orat。 contra Midian； p。 610； Frankfort； 1604。
36。 Tacitus； Annals； xiii。 27。
37。 Freinshemius； Supplement； dec。 2； v。
38。 Exod。； 21。
39。 Tacitus； Annals； xiii。 27。
40。 Augustus's speech in Dio； lvi。
41。 It was formerly the same in China。 The two Mahometan Arabs who travelled thither in the ninth century use the word eunuch whenever they speak of a governor of the city。
42。 Volume iii； p