The French have a saying, "Les Anglais ne savent pas faire un livre." This is unjust, taken absolutely, but as a general rule it is not without foundation.
It is not a question of depth or originality of thought, nor of the various merits belonging to style properly so-called.

In these respects English authors need not fear competition.

But in the art of clear and logical arrangement, of building up a book in such order and method that each part contributes to the general effect of the whole, we must own that we have many lessons to learn of our neighbours.

Now in this quality Gibbon is a Frenchman.

Not Voltaire himself is more perspicuous than Gibbon.