The interpretations of this period of English political life
fall largely into two groups stressing respectively the passing
of the powers of the crown, and the beginnings of demo-
cratic rule. Broadly speaking, the first of these proces-
ses was already completed when George the First neglected
to attend meetings of his ministers, and the second had not
yet truly begun until a much later epoch.
It seems a far cry from autocratic monarchy to thorough-
going democracy. A sudden change from one to the other
has, it is believed, never been accomiplished save by violent
revolution, if even by that means. Fortunately it is not nec-

* The first two Georges were not entirely devoid of influence upon
affairs domestic or foreign but their power of direction was not con-
siderable except in the foreign field, and even there partly because of
their interests in Hanover.
