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SECT. I.

OF THE BALANCE OF POWER.

Ir is a question, whether the idea of THE BALANCE OF POWER be owing entirely to modern policy, or whether the phrafe only has been invented in thefe latter ages? It is certain, that XENOPHON*, in his Inftitution of CYRUS, reprefents the combination of the ASIATIC powers to have arifen from a jealoufy of the increafing force of the MEDES and PERSIANS; and though that elegant compofition should be supposed altogether a romance, this fentiment, afcribed by the author to the eastern princes, is at least a proof of the prevailing notion of ancient times.

In all the politics of GREECE, the anxiety, with regard to the balance of power, is apparent, and is expressly pointed out to us, even by the ancient hiftorians. THUCYDIDES + reprefents the league, which was form

* Lib. i.

I

+ Lib. i.

ed

ed against Athens, and which produced the Peloponnefian war, as entirely owing to this principle.-And after the decline of Athens, when the Thebans and Lacedemonians difputed for fovereignty, we find, that the Athenians (as well as many other republics) always threw themselves into the lighter fcale, and endeavoured to preferve the balance. They fupported Thebes against Sparta, till the great victory gained by EPAMINONDAS at Leucira; after which they immediately went over to the conquered from generofity, as they pretended, but, in reality, from their jealousy of the conquerors*.

Whoever will read DEMOSTHENES's oration for the Megalopolitans, may fee the utmost refinements on this principle, that ever entered into the head of a VENETIAN OF ENGLISH fpeculatift, and upon the first rise of the Macedonian power, this orator immediately difcovered the danger, founded the alarm through all Greece, and at last assembled that confederacy under the banners of Athens, which fought the great and decifive battle of Chaeronea.

It is true, the GRECIAN wars are regarded by historians as wars of emulation rather than of politics; and each

XENOPH. Hift. GRAEC. lib. vi. & vii.

ftate

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