14.13. 13. Effects arising from the Climate of England.
In a nation so distempered by the climate as to have a disrelish of everything, nay,
even of life, it is plain that the government most suitable to the
inhabitants is that in which they cannot lay their uneasiness to any
single person's charge, and in which, being under the direction rather
of the laws than of the prince, it is impossible for them to change the
government without subverting the laws themselves.
And if this nation has likewise derived from the climate a certain
impatience of temper, which renders them incapable of bearing the same
train of things for any long continuance, it is obvious that the
government above mentioned is the fittest for them.
This impatience of temper is not very considerable of itself; but it
may become so when joined with courage.
It is quite a different thing from levity, which makes people
undertake or drop a project without cause; it borders more upon
obstinacy, because it proceeds from so lively a sense of misery that it
is not weakened even by the habit of suffering.
This temper in a free nation is extremely proper for disconcerting
the projects of tyranny,
[24]
which is always slow and feeble in its
commencement, as in the end it is active and lively; which at first only
stretches out a hand to assist, and exerts afterwards a multitude of
arms to oppress.
Slavery is ever preceded by sleep. But a people who find no rest in
any situation, who continually explore every part, and feel nothing but
pain, can hardly be lulled to sleep.
Politics is a smooth file, which cuts gradually, and attains its end
by a slow progression. Now the people of whom we have been speaking are
incapable of bearing the delays, the details, and the coolness of
negotiations: in these they are more unlikely to succeed than any other
nation; hence they are apt to lose by treaties what they obtain by their
arms.
Footnotes
[24]
Here I take this word for the design of subverting the
established power, and especially that of democracy; this is the
signification in which it was understood by the Greeks and Romans.
