INTRODUCTIONIt gives me much pleasure to sec .my friend M. Boutmy's work offered to English readers in a trustworthy form. I have not thought it necessary to examine the translation with minute care, but I have seen enough of it to rejoice that the author has been so fortunate in his translator. It is anything but an ea.sy matter to turn good French into good English ; in this case the task has been performed with excellent skill and judgment,, and with close fidelity to the original.The book scorns to me to deserve a welcome in England on two distinct ground a. First, if wc take it as a concise view of the development of the English Constitution on the social and economic side, it fills a place that is not to my knowledge exactly filled by any of our own books. And this alone iruVht suffice to recommend it. But another quality may well give it a positive value, not only for students, but lor masters in history and political science. We have here the frank and lucid record of the About the Publisher Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, History, Folklore and Mythology.Forgotten Books' Classic Reprint Series utilizes the latest technology to regenerate facsimiles of historically important writings. Careful attention has been made to accurately preserve the original format of each page whilst digitally enhancing the difficult to read text. Read books online for free at www.forgottenbooks.org