This book represents, on the one hand , the fulfilment of a long-cherished hope; on the other, an act of tardy expiation. The crime for which expiation is offered is partly collective.

1 Prologue - The Man and The Statesman 2 Birth, Parentage and Education 3 Castlereagh in The Irish Parliament 4 The 'Grattan Constitution' - Castlereagh and Reform 5 Castlereagh Chief Secretary - The French Republic and The Irish Rebellion 6 The Legislative Union - Castlereagh, Cornwallis and Pitt 7 At The India Office - Castlereagh and Wellesley 8 Secretary of State for war and The Colonies (1805-1806) 9 At The War Office - Castlereagh and Napolean 10 At The War Office - Castlereagh and Moore - The Walcheren Expedition 11 Castlereagh and Canning - Percival's Ministry 12 At The Foreign Office - The American War (1812-1814) 13 At The Foreign Office (1813-1814) The European Coalition 14 Castlereagh in Parliament (1812-1813) Leadership of The House of Commons 15 Castlereagh on Mission - The Grand Alliance 16 Castlereagh at The Congress of Vienna - The Hundred Days 17 Post-War England - Social Unrest - Castlereagh's Work 18 Castlereagh and Europe (1815-1822) - The Quadruple Alliance 19 The Last Years - The Eastern Question - Old and New Spain 20 The End - Epilogue and Appreciations Appendix - Select Bibliography Index