Whatever  wifdom  an4  equity  appear  in  the  ancient  regula-
tions of  the  Francs,  and  other  nations,  beyond  ^hat  we
(bould  have  expedled  in  thofe  times,  we  muft,  neverthclefs,
fee  rcafon  to  congratulate  ourfelves  and  countrymen  on  our
Happier  ftate,  particularly  in  this  view,  that  while  numbers  of
the  inhabitants  (the  native  Gauls)  received  oo  benefit  from
thefe  proviiions,  but  were  in  an  abjed  ftate  of  fiav^ry,  the  free
conftitution  under  which  we  live  extends  its  beneficial  influence
.to  every  rank,  and  the  lowed  ftation  ihares  the  advantage  of
its  laws.
Another  chapter  is  entitled,  *  State  of  Tradf  in  the  %tb  and  ^b
Centuriis.
*  There  ws^s  a  fettled  trade  between  France  and  England  till  Char-
lemain,  offended  at  the  prefumption  of  Offa,  king  of  the  Mercians,
prohibited  all  manner  of  dealing  between  the  two  nations  ;  and  it
was  net  till  two  years  after  that  it  returned  into  its  former  channel.
