The contents were a characteristic mixture of history, speculation, and personal experience.

Froude had a fixed idea that English politicians, especially Liberal politicians, wanted to get rid of the Colonies.

Else why had they withdrawn British troops from Canada and New Zealand?
He could not see, perhaps they did not all see themselves, that to give the Colonies complete freedom, and to insist upon their providing, except so far as the Navy was concerned, for their own defence, would strengthen, not weaken, the tie.

In proof of his theory he produced some singular evidence, comprising one of the strangest stories that ever was told.

He heard it, so he informs us, from Sir Arthur Helps, and reproduces it in his own words.
"A Government had gone out; Lord Palmerston was forming a new Ministry, and in a preliminary Council was arranging the composition of it.