Page 319, Art. VI. for "return," read "returns." Page 360, line 3 from bottom, for " which," read "while." The Binder is requested to insert the eight pages E* in their proper GOLDEN RULES OF SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY. GOLDEN RULES FOR SOVEREIGN PRINCES. I. - SOVEREIGN PRINCES should never forget that their office is created and upheld for the general benefit of the community, and that every Sovereign exists as such solely for the advantage of the nation. They must not imagine that the people exist for the sake of sovereigns, and to add to their power and splendour; but should remember that kings are appointed for the public good, and that they are themselves mere instruments of public convenience. B II. A sovereign should attach no personal importance to the circumstance of his happening to be the head of the state; for every cone must have an apex, every sphere a centre, and every society some head-a necessity, of which the sovereign is the creature and patient, not the creator and cause. III. Princes should not mistake the deference which is paid to them by the servile habits of mankind, and by the ambitious desire of obtaining their favour, for any proof that the homage is created by any sense of real inferiority in those who display it, or any actual animal superiority in the sovereign; but should consider all such deference as arising from the desire to please, in the hope of profiting by the royal power and favour. IV. Every sovereign holds his station under the laws, customs, and constitution, of the country; and these he is, therefore, bound to respect and protect: and they should govern the king in the policy of his government, as much as the meanest of the people in the subjection of their conduct. V. The attention of princes should be chiefly directed to the welfare and happiness of those classes of their subjects who are least able to take care of themselves: a king of the nobility and gentry is sovereign but of a centum of his subjects; while the nobility and gentry are best able to take care of themselves, and, in fact, demand less of the guardianship of the sovereign than the industrious and labouring classes. VI. To know the condition of his people, and to enable him to protect poverty against the oppressions of abused power and wealth, every sovereign should, as a sacred duty, receive and peruse the petitions and representations of the meanest of his subjects; but, if the reception of them is personally inconvenient, then every palace-gate should be provided with a letter-box, of which the sovereign ought to keep a master-key; and letters and petitions should be freely put into it, by all who seek redress from the power, information, and influence, of the sovereign. VII. The character of a sovereign is determined by that of his ministers; these, therefore, ought to be selected according to their ability, and promoted according to their industry, fidelity, and integrity. The sovereign who, from any consideration, continues an unworthy minister in office, ceases to be duly considerate either of the benefit of his people or of the honour of his throne. VIII. It is the business of the sovereign to assign the duties of his ministers; to take care that they embrace every interest of his subjects; to distribute them in such manner that no one may have too much to perform; and, by classing the petitions and complaints of his subjects, to determine which service of the state is inefficiently or properly performed. IX. A sovereign should constantly recollect, that it is the sole object of his ministers to enrich |