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The Foreign Policy of William Pitt in the First Decade of his Ministry in its European Significance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 February 2009

Felix Salomon
Affiliation:
Privat-Dozent at the University of Leipzig, 1896.

Extract

The latest work from the pen of Sir J. R. Seeley, just published, contains, as the last legacy of an author who has rendered such good service to learning, a suggestion surpassing the limits of the subject of which he treats. In speaking of the growth of British policy, Seeley also proceeds to treat of the foreign relations of a state from the standpoint of their development, and in giving the history of this growth teaches us to observe and to reproduce the conditions of such a development. At the same time special stress is laid upon the point that the policy of a state is not to be considered by itself, but that the reciprocal action of states upon one another must be followed out. The history of policy is to Seeley synonymous with international history. It cannot be said that this conception is altogether new, since there is no lack, especially in English literature, of works which have adopted it; but, on the other hand, it is doubtful whether this manner of treating of foreign policy, which cannot pay sufficient regard to its connection with the internal policy of every separate state, will always be advisable.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Historical Society 1896

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References

page 113 note 1 We are indebted for their publication to Mr. Browning.

page 114 note 1 The previous addition of Hanover to the confederation of princes had not aimed at preparing the way for the approach of Prussia. It had been rather an act of personal policy on the part of the King, than a measure adopted by the farreaching views of the ministers.