The Empire therefore is now hereditary, and probably will remain so till Time shall be no more, unless the most urgent and extreme Necessity oblige them to deviate from this Rule. Mention is made in the _Potuan_ Annals, of a Philosopher who devis’d an Expedient to break thro’ this Law. His Counsel was not to set aside the Royal Family, but to make Choice of that Son of the deceas’d Sovereign, be it elder or younger, whose Virtues were more eminent, and who should be deem’d most equal to the Weight. This Philosopher, having propos’d this Law, submitted himself (according to the Custom of his Country) to the usual Test, namely, to have his Neck in a Halter, while they were debating about the Utility of the propos’d Law. The Senate being assembled, and the Votes cast up, the Proposal was condemn’d as a Thing detrimental to the Commonwealth. They believ’d it would be the Source of perpetual Troubles, and would sow the Seeds of Discord between the Royal Progeny; that therefore it was more advisable for the old Law to take Place, and that the Right of Dominion should still devolve upon the First-Born, altho’ the younger Issue might excel in the Endowments of the Mind. The Law therefore not passing, the Projector was strangled. And these are the only Species of Criminals that are punish’d with Death. For the _Potuans_ are persuaded, that every Change or Reformation, however well digested, gives Occasion to Disturbance and Commotion, and puts the whole State into a fluctuating and unsettled Condition; but if it be a rash and ill-digested Alteration, it is followed with inevitable Ruin. The Power of the _Potuan_ Monarchs, altho’ subject to no Laws, is yet rather a paternal than a regal Power. For being naturally Lovers of Justice, Power, and Liberty, Things totally incompatible elsewhere, do here go Hand in Hand. Among the Laws of this Kingdom, the most salutary is that by which the Princes endeavour to preserve an Equality between the Subjects, that is, as far as the Nature of Government will admit. You see here no different Ranks and Titles of Honour. Inferiors obey their Superiors, and the Younger the Elder; and this is all.