The plates, which precede t.-p., have half-title: Fifty-four illustrations drawn from unusual sources and specially chosen by the author.

Map on lining-papers.

"First edition."

Includes bibliography (p. 264-291) and index.

Machine derived contents note: Ix -- Chapter I STABILIZATION IN THE WEST L' I -- I The End of the Age of Louis XIV: I The Problem of Stabiliza. -- tion: III The French Succession: IV The Jacobite Failure: V The -- Barrier Problem: VI The Italian Qvuestion: VII Stanhope and Dubois -- as Peacemakers , -- Chapter II STABILIZATION IN THE NORTH AND EAST 21 -- I The Swedish Succession: II The Baltic Question: III Russia and -- Europe: IV The Hapsburg Drang nach Oste: V The Treaty of -- Nystadt: VI. The European Balance in 1721 -- Chapter III THE STRUCTURE or1 PouLITcs 36 -- I The Conservative Reaction: II Revolts of the Nobles: III Church -- and State: IV The Growth of Central Authority -- Chapter IV EcoNOMic EXPERIMENTS 73 -- I The Impoverishment of War: 1 The Bank 'of England and the -- Banque Royale: III Sinking Fund and Visa: IV The Mississippi and -- South Sea Bubbles: V The Ostend Company: VI Asiento and Inter- -- lopers: VII Political Implications of Economic Progress -- Chapter V RESISTANCE TO CHANG , 1 -- I The Force of Tradition: II The Uichanging Countryside: III Sys- -- tems of Land Tenure: IV The Dead Hand: V The Bourgeoisie: -- VI The Corporate Ideal: VII Patronage and Leadership -- Chapter VI THE APPEAL TO NATURE AND REASON 140 -- I Tab:ua Rasa: 1 The Law of Pasimony: III Liberty and Law: -- IV The "Right of Property": V The Enlightenment and the "Cake -- " of Custom": VI A Note on Vico -- Chapter VII THE ARTS 176 -- I Instruments of Progress: II Comforts and Conveniences: III Cere- -- monial as a Useful Art: IV Artifice, Pattern, and Eloquence -- o u -- Chapter VIII THE COURSE OF POLITICS 201 -- I Quieta non movere: II Britain under Walpole: III The Policy of -- Fleury: IV Two Federal States: V Spain and Italy: VI The Ger- -- manies and the Hapsburg World: VII The Muscovite Autocracy: -- VIII The Ottoman Heritage -- Chapter IX THE UNEASY BALANCE ' 240 -- I The Quadruple Alliance: II The Italian Troubles: III The War of -- the Polish Succession: IV War in the East: V The War of Jenkins' -- Ear: VI The Balance Upset -- Chapter X BIBLIOGRAPHY 264.