But this reflection, which would tend to alleviate the miseries of despotism, is contradicted at least by the history of the Roman empire; which accuses the same princes of despoiling the senate of its authority, and the provinces of their wealth.

Without abolishing all the various customs and duties on merchandises, which are imperceptibly discharged by the apparent choice of the purchaser, the policy of Constantine and his successors preferred a simple and direct mode of taxation, more congenial to the spirit of an arbitrary government.

[169] [Footnote 168: Montesquieu, Esprit des Loix, l.xii.c.

13.] [Footnote 169: Mr.Hume (Essays, vol.i.p.

389) has seen this importance with some degree of perplexity.].