Rapid succession of sceptical controversies 427-429 Knowledge begins to be diffused, and takes a popular form 430-433 Political meetings, and publication of parliamentary debates 433-434 Doctrine of personal representation, and idea of independence 436 Corresponding change in the style of authors 436-439 Hence great reforms became inevitable 439-440 This tendency was aided by George I. and George II. 441-443 But discouraged by George III., under whom began a dangerous political reaction 444-446 Ignorance of George III. 446 Subserviency of Pitt 446-449 Incompetence of other statesmen, and the king's hatred of great men 449-451 Deterioration of the House of Lords 451-455 Ability and accomplishments of Burke 458-461 He opposed the views of George III., and was neglected by him 462-467 Burke's subsequent hallucinations and violence 467-476 The king now favoured him 476-477 Policy of George III. respecting America 478-482 This policy reacted upon England 482-483 Policy in regard to France 483-486 This also reacted upon England 486 And produced arbitrary laws against the liberties of England 487-493 Which were zealously enforced by the executive 494-496 Gloomy political prospects of England late in the eighteenth century 496-498 But, owing to the progress of knowledge, a counter reaction was preparing 498-502 To which, and to the increasing power of public opinion, England owes her great reforms of the nineteenth century 502-505 LIST OF AUTHORS QUOTED. [In order to assist those who wish to verify my references, and also with the view of indicating the nature and extent of the materials which I have used, I have drawn up the following list of the principal works quoted. When no edition is mentioned, the size is 8vo _et infra_. When the name of the author is enclosed between brackets, the book is anonymous; but in such cases I have usually subjoined some authority who gives evidence of the authorship.] [Aarsens de Sommerdyck] Voyage d'Espagne, fait en l'année 1655. Paris, 1665. 4to. Barbier (_Dictionnaire des Ouvrages Anonymes_, vol. ii. p. 468, Paris, 1806) refers to an edition of 1666. Abd-Allatif, Relation de l'Égypte, traduite par Silvestre de Sacy. Paris, 1810. 4to.