England had her revolution behind her, France had hers before her.

England enjoyed what were then considered large political liberties, the envy of other lands; France groaned under the tyranny of worthless rulers.

The English constitution satisfied the nation, and the serious abuses which would now appear to us intolerable were not sufficient to awaken a passionate desire for reforms.

The general tendency of British thought was to see salvation in the stability of existing institutions, and to regard change with suspicion.

Now passionate desire for reform was the animating force which propagated the idea of Progress in France.