m of favouritism which was adopted by Henry the Third of
France, and to the dreadful consequences it produced. What he says of
revolutions is equally true of all great disturbances. If this
presumption in favour of the subjects against the trustees of power be
not the more probable, I am sure it is the more comfortable speculation,
because it is more easy to change an Administration than to reform a
people.

* * * * *

Upon a supposition, therefore, that, in the opening of the cause, the
presumptions stand equally balanced between the parties, there seems
sufficient ground to entitle any person to a fair hearing who attempts
some other scheme besides that easy one which is fashionable in some
fashionable companies, to account for the present discontents. It is not
to be argued that we endure no grievance, because our grievances are not
of the same sort with those under which we laboured formerly--not
precisely those which we bore from the Tudors, or vindicated on the
Stuarts. A great change has taken place in the affairs of this country.
For in the silent lapse of events as material alterations have been
insensibly brought about in the policy and character of governments and
nations as those which have been marked by the tumult of public
revolutions.

It is very rare indeed for men to be wrong in their feelings concerning
public misconduct; as rare to be right in their speculation upon the
cause of it. I have constantly observed that the generality of people
are fifty years, at least, behindhand in their politics. There are but
very few who are capable of comparing and digesting what passes before
their eyes at different times and occasions, so as to form the whole into
a distinct system. But in books everything is settled for them, without
the exertion of any considerable diligence or sagacity. For which reason
men are wise with but little reflection, and good with little
self-denial, in the business of all times except their own. We are very
uncorrupt and tolerably enlightened judges of the transactions of past
ages; where no passions deceive, and where the whole train of
circumstances, from the trifling cause to the tragical event, is set in
an orderly series before us. Few are the partisans of departed tyranny;
and to be a Whig on the business of a hundred years ago is very
consistent with every advantage of present servility. This retrospective
wisdom and historical patriotism are things of wonderful