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wise； is free to speak that which is in him； can never suffer a
revolution。 The folly blows itself off like steam； in harmless
noise； the wisdom becomes part of the general intellectual stock of
the nation； and prepares men for gradual； and therefore for
harmless； change。
As long as the press is free； a nation is guaranteed against sudden
and capricious folly； either from above or from below。 As long as
the press is free； a nation is guaranteed against the worse evil of
persistent and obstinate folly； cloaking itself under the venerable
shapes of tradition and authority。 For under a free press； a nation
must ultimately be guided not by a caste； not by a class； not by
mere wealth； not by the passions of a mob： but by mind； by the net
result of all the common…sense of its members； and in the present
default of genius； which is un…common sense； common…sense seems to
be the only； if not the best； safeguard for poor humanity。
1867
LECTURE ICASTE
＇Delivered at the Royal Institution； London； 1867。＇
These Lectures are meant to be comments on the state of France
before the French Revolution。 To English society； past or present；
I do not refer。 For reasons which I have set forth at length in an
introductory discourse； there never was any Ancien Regime in
England。
Therefore； when the Stuarts tried to establish in England a system
which might have led to a political condition like that of the
Continent； all classes combined and exterminated them； while the
course of English society went on as before。
On the contrary； England was the mother of every movement which
undermined； and at last destroyed； the Ancien Regime。
From England went forth those political theories which； transmitted
from America to France； became the principles of the French
Revolution。 From England went forth the philosophy of Locke； with
all its immense results。 It is noteworthy； that when Voltaire tries
to persuade people； in a certain famous passage； that philosophers
do not care to trouble the worldof the ten names to whom he does
honour； seven names are English。 〃It is；〃 he says； 〃neither
Montaigne； nor Locke； nor Boyle； nor Spinoza； nor Hobbes； nor Lord
Shaftesbury； nor Mr。 Collins； nor Mr。 Toland； nor Fludd； nor Baker；
who have carried the torch of discord into their countries。〃 It is
worth notice； that not only are the majority of these names English；
but that they belong not to the latter but to the former half of the
eighteenth century； and indeed； to the latter half of the
seventeenth。
So it was with that Inductive Physical Science； which helped more
than all to break up the superstitions of the Ancien Regime； and to
set man face to face with the facts of the universe。 From England；
towards the end of the seventeenth century； it was promulgated by
such men as Newton； Boyle； Sydenham； Ray； and the first founders of
our Royal Society。
In England； too； arose the great religious movements of the
seventeenth and eighteenth centuriesand especially that of a body
which I can never mention without most deep respectthe Society of
Friends。 At a time when the greater part of the Continent was sunk
in spiritual sleep； these men were reasserting doctrines concerning
man； and his relation to his Creator； which； whether or not all
believe them （as I believe them） to be founded on eternal fact； all
must confess to have been of incalculable benefit to the cause of
humanity and civilisation。
From England； finally； about the middle of the eighteenth century；
went forthpromulgated by English noblementhat freemasonry which
seems to have been the true parent of all the secret societies of
Europe。 Of this curious question； more hereafter。 But enough has
been said to show that England； instead of falling； at any period；
into the stagnation of the Ancien Regime； was； from the middle of
the seventeenth century； in a state of intellectual growth and
ferment which communicated itself finally to the continental
nations。 This is the special honour of England； universally
confessed at the time。 It was to England that the slowly…awakening
nations looked； as the source of all which was noble； true； and
free； in the dawning future。
It will be seen； from what I have said； that I consider the Ancien
Regime to begin in the seventeenth century。 I should date its
commencementas far as that of anything so vague； unsystematic；
indeed anarchic； can be definedfrom the end of the Thirty Years'
War； and the peace of Westphalia in 1648。
For by that time the mighty spiritual struggles and fierce religious
animosities of the preceding century had worn themselves out。 And；
as always happens； to a period of earnest excitement had succeeded
one of weariness； disgust； half…unbelief in the many questions for
which so much blood had been shed。 No man had come out of the
battle with altogether clean hands； some not without changing sides
more than once。 The war had ended as one； not of nations； not even
of zealots； but of mercenaries。 The body of Europe had been pulled
in pieces between them all； and the poor soul thereofas was to be
expectedhad fled out through the gaping wounds。 Life； mere
existence； was the most pressing need。 If men couldin the old
prophet's wordsfind the life of their hand； they were content。
High and low only asked to be let live。 The poor asked it
slaughtered on a hundred battle…fields； burnt out of house and home：
vast tracts of the centre of Europe were lying desert； the
population was diminished for several generations。 The trading
classes； ruined by the long war； only asked to be let live； and make
a little money。 The nobility； too； only asked to be let live。 They
had lost； in the long struggle； not only often lands and power； but
their ablest and bravest men； and a weaker and meaner generation was
left behind； to do the governing of the world。 Let them live； and
keep what they had。 If signs of vigour still appeared in France； in
the wars of Louis XIV。 they were feverish； factitious； temporary
soon； as the event proved； to droop into the general exhaustion。 If
wars were still to be waged they were to be wars of succession； wars
of diplomacy； not wars of principle； waged for the mightiest
invisible interests of man。 The exhaustion was general； and to it
we must attribute alike the changes and the conservatism of the
Ancien Regime。 To it is owing that growth of a centralising
despotism； and of arbitrary regal power； which M。 de Tocqueville has
set forth in a book which I shall have occasion often to quote。 To
it is owing； too； that longing； which seems to us childish； after
ancient forms； etiquettes； dignities； court costumes； formalities
diplomatic； legal； ecclesiastical。 Men clung to them as to
keepsakes of the pastrevered relics of more intelligible and
better…ordered times。 If the spirit had been beaten out of them in
a century of battle； that was all the mor