Though the division into dynasties and reigns has not been adopted, the names of the reigning sovereigns are given in shoulder-notes throughout the book. From the time of George the First, the names of the Prime Ministers are given opposite those of the Sovereigns, in the belief that in a constitutional monarchy the former are as important as the latter.

In the later chapters, dealing with recent events, scrupulous care has been taken to preserve a strictly impartial tone in the narrative.