uch resurrection of
national strength in Rome under the emperors after the devastations of the
barbarians began; nor do we hear of any such after the oppression of the
pachas and ages in Turkey and Persia at this time. Superficial writers
explain this by saying, these nations are in their decline, and the Gothic
nations, during the feudal ages, were in their youth. But the human race
is, in all ages, equally young; there are an equal number of young men in
proportion to the population in every country and in every age. The reason
of the difference is, that social evils have arisen in the one case which
were unknown in the other--they have spread and diffused their baneful
influence.

The feudal institutions, amidst all their want of protection against
political violence or external oppression, had one admirable quality,
which enabled society to bear up and advance under all these accumulated
evils. They conferred power and influence at home on those only who were
_interested_ in the welfare of the people. The feudal baron, at the head
of his armed followers, was doubtless always ready, at the summons of his
sovereign, to perform his fifty days' military service, or, at the call of
an injured clansman, to make an inroad into the territories of a
neighbouring but hostile feudatory; but when he did so, he had nothing to
depend upon but his own retainers, serfs, or followers. If they were
depressed, starving, alienated, or lukewarm, he was lost; he was defeated
in the field, and speedily besieged in his last stronghold. Thus, the most
valuable element was universally diffused over society; viz. a sense of
mutual dependence, and of the benefit each derived from the prosperity of
his neighbours. If the baron was weak or unsupported, his vassals were
liable to be plundered, his serfs found themselves without bread. If the
vassals were oppressed, the baron was undone: instead of a formidable
array of stout men-at-arms, sturdy archers, and gallant spearmen, to
defend his domains, he found himself followed only by a weak and feeble
array, giving awful evidence, in the decisive moment, of the ruinous
effects of his disorderly or tyrannical government. Even the serfs were
bound up with the prosperity of the little community. If they were
weakened by bad usage, or driven from the domain by cruelty, the fields
were untilled, the swine unherded, the baron and vassals without bread.
Thus it was the interest of all to stand by, protect,