This book is based on my D. Phil, thesis which was presented at Oxford in 1986. I am very grateful to my supervisor Peter Mathias (now Master of Downing College, Cambridge), whose interest and astute comments helped me immeasurably, as also did his writings, which made a number of important issues clear to me during the research. I would also especially like to thank Francis Sejersted, who supervised the work while I was researching in Norway, and my examiners, Patrick O'Brien and John Harris, particularly for very helpful advice on revising the study for publication as a book.