The context of The English Constitution

When Walter Bagehot's examination of the bases and mechanisms of British government began to appear in 1865, he was approaching the peak of his career. Not quite forty years old, but already firmly established in the editorial chair of The Economist, he was a recognised authority on financial questions, well known among the leaders of the Liberal party, and looking for an opportunity to enter Parliament. It was natural for him, as a member of the group which established the Fortnightly Review, to assist the launch of the new Liberal journal with his pen. His first article on the English constitution appeared in the first issue of the Fortnightly Review in May 1865, followed by eight further instalments, concluding in January 1867. The subject could hardly have been more topical. The 1860s was a period of intensive constitutional discussion. Standard works on the constitution, like those of Brougham, Grey, and Russell, went into new editions and were joined by fresh studies such as John Stuart Mill's Representative Government. Alongside the desire to exhibit the peculiar qualities of the institutions which were held responsible for the growth of Britain's political stability and economic prosperity there ran a current of anxiety about their capacity to meet three looming tests: accommodating the development of society at home; equipping the country to compete successfully with rising powers abroad; and providing a workable model for other countries, especially Britain's colonies.