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There is reason to apprehend that this work may be regarded merely as a livre de circonstance. That the moment of its appearance gives to it something of that character it would be affectation to deny; but, as a fact, it is a fragment of a larger work to which much of my leisure has for some years been devoted. This work may, I trust, be completed within a reasonable time, but meanwhile it seems not inopportune to offer to the public an instalment which may, it is hoped, contribute towards the solution of a problem of immediate importance.

It is a pleasant duty to acknowledge the many obligations which I have incurred. I do not know of any single work which covers the same ground, but parts of it have been traversed with great industry, and to the labourers who have preceded me, and of whose labours I have freely availed myself, I wish to tender my grateful thanks. A short list of authorities will be found in an appendix, but I wish to acknowledge a special debt to the works of Mr. James Bryce, Mr. A. V. Dicey, Mr. C. H. Firth, President Lowell of Harvard, Mr. Woodrow Wilson, Sir Henry Maine, Mr. Lecky, Mr. A. K. Keith, and to the collections of Constitutional Texts edited by Mr. W. F. Dodd and M. Demombynes. To original sources I have gone, as will be perceived, whenever I found it possible to do so. Mr. H. E. Egerton, Beit Professor of Colonial History, kindly permitted me to read one of his unpublished lectures, and in regard to Canada Mr. W. L. Grant, Assistant Beit Lecturer, has given me the benefit of his exceptional knowledge. To Mr. Wray Skilbeck, Editor of the Nineteenth Century and After, and to Mr. W. L. Courtney, Editor of the Fortnightly Review, I am greatly indebted for permission, generously accorded, to make use of articles which I have contributed to those Reviews. My friend Dr. R. W. Macan, Master of University College, most kindly read the proofs as they passed through the press, and though he is not in any way responsible for the views expressed or the manner of expressing them, I owe him a heavy debt of gratitude for timely and valuable suggestions. Sir William Anson, Warden of All Souls College, was also kind enough to read much of the book in proof and to make several interesting suggestions of which I have gratefully availed myself. I have been at pains to verify my references, and quote my authorities, but much of the book has been written from notes unavoidably made at odd moments, and for any unacknowledged obligations I crave pardon.

J. A. R. MARRIOTT.

Oxford,

March, 1910.