This insightful analysis of the British Empire in the late 19th century argues that the imperial project is inherently unstable and that the colonies, far from being a source of strength, actually undermine the unity of the British state. Jenkins draws on a wealth of historical and contemporary evidence to make a persuasive case for a more decentralized, federal approach to imperial governance. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.