BOOK IV

_Which treats further of political laws and sets forth the means of strengthening the Constitution of the State_.

I That the general Will is indestructible II Voting III Elections IV The Roman Comitia V The Tribunate VI The Dictatorship VII The Censorship VIII Civil Religion IX Conclusion

A DISCOURSE ON THE ARTS AND SCIENCES A DISCOURSE ON THE ORIGIN OF INEQUALITY -- Appendix A DISCOURSE ON POLITICAL ECONOMY

THE SOCIAL CONTRACT

OR

PRINCIPLES OF POLITICAL

RIGHT

Fœderis æquas

Dicamus leges. (Vergil, _Æneid_ XI.)

FOREWORD

This little treatise is part of a longer work which I began years ago without realising my limitations, and long since abandoned. Of the various fragments that might have been extracted from what I wrote, this is the most considerable, and, I think, the least unworthy of being offered to the public. The rest no longer exists.