nch, she
says, being worthy of philosophical investigation, fall into two distinct
inquiries:--

"First, if from the progress of reason we be authorized to infer
that all governments will be meliorated, and the happiness of man
placed on the solid basis gradually prepared by the improvement of
political science; if the degrading distinctions of rank, born in
barbarism and nourished by chivalry, be really becoming in the
estimation of all sensible people so contemptible, that a modest
man, in the course of fifty years, would probably blush at being
thus distinguished; if the complexion of manners in Europe be
completely changed from what it was half a century ago, and the
liberty of its citizens tolerably secured; if every day extending
freedom be more firmly established in consequence of the general
dissemination of truth and knowledge,--it then seems injudicious
for statesmen to force the adoption of any opinion, by aiming at
the speedy destruction of obstinate prejudices; because these
premature reforms, instead of promoting, destroy the comfort of
those unfortunate beings who are under their dominion, affording at
the same time to despotism the strongest arguments to urge in
opposition to the theory of reason. Besides, the objects intended
to be forwarded are probably retarded, whilst the tumult of
internal commotion and civil discord leads to the most dreadful
consequence,--the immolating of human victims.

"But, secondly, it is necessary to observe, that, if the degeneracy
of the higher orders of society be such that no remedy less fraught
with horror can effect a radical cure; and if, enjoying the fruits
of usurpation, they domineer over the weak, and check, by all the
means in their power, every humane effort to draw man out of the
state of degradation into which the inequality of fortune has sunk
him; the people are justified in having recourse to coercion to
repel coercion. And, further, if it can be ascertained that the
silent sufferings of the citizens of the world are greater, though
less obvious, than the calamities produced by such violent
convulsions as have happened in France, which, like hurricanes
whirling over the face of nature, strip off all its blooming
graces, it may be politically just to pursue such measures as were
taken