ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents some closing thoughts of key concepts covered in the preceding chapters of this book. The book looks at how much the structural factors giving Britain strength and enabling it to use this strength, notably its naval power and its public finances, were affected by the agency and contingencies of the years. The growing redundancy of the views on British foreign policy that had become grounded as part of the Revolution Settlement was a theme of the 1750s, a theme anticipated in the public and ministerial debate earlier as opposition to interventionism was encouraged by differences with allies. The relationship between domestic politics and foreign policy, however, remained more troubled. Public criticism, however, was the direction, style and content of British politics; although that situation and the problems posed by such criticism left unclear how political discussion should best be conducted and handled.
