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kinsmen of their own。 It may lead them to ask themselves why； in a
world which is governed by a just God； such great power as is
palpably theirs at present is entrusted to them； save that they may
do more work； and not less； than other men； under the penalties
pronounced against those to whom much is given； and of whom much is
required。 It may lead them to discover that they are in a world
where it is not safe to sit under the tree； and let the ripe fruit
drop into your mouth； where the 〃competition of species〃 works with
ruthless energy among all ranks of being； from kings upon their
thrones to the weeds upon the waste； where 〃he that is not hammer；
is sure to be anvil；〃 and he who will not work； neither shall he
eat。 It may lead them to devote that energy （in which they surpass
so far the continental aristocracies） to something better than
outdoor amusements or indoor dilettantisms。 There are those among
them who； like one section of the old French noblesse； content
themselves with mere complaints of 〃the revolutionary tendencies of
the age。〃 Let them beware in time； for when the many are on the
march； the few who stand still are certain to be walked over。 There
are those among them who； like another section of the French
noblesse； are ready； more generously than wisely； to throw away
their own social and political advantages； and play （for it will
never be really more than playing） at democracy。 Let them； too；
beware。 The penknife and the axe should respect each other； for
they were wrought from the same steel： but the penknife will not be
wise in trying to fell trees。 Let them accept their own position；
not in conceit and arrogance； but in fear and trembling； and see if
they cannot play the man therein； and save their own class； and with
it； much which it has needed many centuries to accumulate and to
organise； and without which no nation has yet existed for a single
century。 They are no more like the old French noblesse； than are
the commercial class like the old French bourgeoisie； or the
labouring like the old French peasantry。 Let them prove that fact
by their deeds during the next generation； or sink into the
condition of mere rich men； exciting； by their luxury and laziness；
nothing but envy and contempt。
Meanwhile； behind all classes and social forcesI had almost said；
above them allstands a fourth estate； which will； ultimately；
decide the form which English society is to take： a Press as
different from the literary class of the Ancien Regime as is
everything else English； and different in thisthat it is free。
The French Revolution； like every revolution （it seems to me） which
has convulsed the nations of Europe for the last eighty years； was
caused immediatelywhatever may have been its more remote causes
by the suppression of thought； or； at least； by a sense of wrong
among those who thought。 A country where every man； be he fool or
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 Fran