PREFACE. Ar a time when the minds of men are peculiarly occupied with the important objects of law and government, I have thought that the following Work might not be considered as a trivial, or even as an useless undertaking. It has appeared to me, that an accurate survey of the governments of Sparta, and of Athens, might be deemed a curious and an interesting speculation, by all those, at least, who engaged in the study of politics, would wish to consult the history of nations, and |