530 BIOGRAPHICAL ACCOUNT 



destruction of the French monarchy. When opposed to these 

 causes, sueh influence was annihilated ; when co-operating with 

 them, its effects were imperceptible. It was a force which 

 could only follow those already in action ; it was like " dash- 

 il ing with the oar to hasten the cataract," or, " waving with 

 " a fan to give swiftness to the wind *." 



It is, however, much easier to say what were not, than what 

 were, the causes of the French Revolution ; and in dissenting 

 from Professor Robison, I will only remark in general, that I 

 believe the principal causes to be involved in this maxim, That 

 a certain relation between the degree of Knowledge diffused 

 through a nation, and the degree of Political Liberty enjoyed 

 by it, is necessary to the stability of its government. The 

 knowledge and information of the French people, exceeded 

 the measure that is consistent with the entire want of political 

 liberty. The first great exigency of Government, therefore, 

 the first moment of a weak administration, could hardly fail to 

 produce an attempt to obtain possession of those rights, which, 

 though never enjoyed, can never be alienated. Such an occa- 

 sion actually occurred, and the revolution which took place 

 was entire and terrible. This also was to he expected ; for 

 there seems to be among political institutions, as among me- 

 chanical contrivances, two kinds of equilibrium, which, though 

 they appear very much alike in times of quiet, yet, in the mo- 

 ment of agitation and difficulty, are discovered to be very dif- 

 ferent from one another. The one is tottering and inse- 

 cure, in so much that the smallest departure from the ex- 

 act balance leads to its total subversion. The other is stable, 

 so that even a violent concussion only excites some vibrations 

 backward and forward, after which every thing settles in its 



own 



* Ferguson's Essay on Civil Society, Part hi. Sect. 4. 



