XII 
RULES FOR REDUCING A GREAT EMPIRE TO A SMALL ONE 
PRESENTED TO A LATE MINISTER 
An ancient sage valued himself upon this, that, 
though he could not fiddle he knew how to make a 
great city of a little one. The science that I, a mod- 
ern simpleton, am about to communicate, is the very 
reverse. 
I address myself to all ministers who have the man- 
agement of extensive dominions, which from their 
very greatness have become troublesome to govern, 
because the multiplicity of their affairs leaves no time 
for fiddling. 
1. In the first place, gentlemen, you are to con- 
sider that a great empire, like a great cake, 1s most 
easily diminished at the edges. Turn your attention, 
therefore, first to your remotest provinces; that, as 
you get rid of them, the next may follow in order. 
2. That the possibility of this separation may 
always exist, take special care the provinces are 
never incorporated with the mother country; that they 
do not enjoy the same common rights, the same 
privileges in commerce; and that they are governed 
by severer laws, all of your enacting, without allow- 
ing them any share in the choice of the legislators. 
By carefully making and preserving such distinctions, 
* Supposed to be the Earl of Hillsborough. 
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