[massadvj]

he then goes further stating that Hobbes was a conservative and Locke was a liberal

By the standards of their time, they were. Just as Jefferson was a "liberal" based on an early 19th century definition of that term. Today's conservatives would have far more in common with Locke, and Jefferson, than today's liberals. I think Hart was referring to the classical definitions, but he should have made that clear.

[Durus]

I did mention this in my comment. I stand by my statement that if he is referring to the 18th/19th definition of those term then the entire essay becomes pointless.