Since the revolution of America, and more so since that of France, this preaching up the doctrines of precedents, drawn from times and circumstances antecedent to those events, has been the studied practice of the English government.
Paine argues that the English government deliberately emphasizes precedents from older times to counter the influence of the American and French Revolutions.
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A knowledge of the practice was then joined to the theory; and all that was wanting to give it real existence was opportunity.
The aristocracy has screened itself too much, and this serves to restore a part of the lost equilibrium.
But from such opposition the French Revolution, instead of suffering, receives an homage.