This collection of Coleridge's political and social writings includes the second "Lay Sermon" of 1817 and "In the Constitution of Church and State", printed with only slight abridgements. It also has groups of briefer extracts tracing major steps in the development of Coleridge's mature thought.

Part 1 The politics of religious radicalism - the Bristol lectures (1795): "Introductory address" - "Conciones ad Populum"; "The Present War" - "Conciones ad Populum"; "The lectures on revealed religion - lecture five"; "the plot discovered". Part 2 The retreat from radicalism 1797-1802: the limitations of political power (letter); recantation; "On the French Revolution"; "Comparison of France and Rome"; "Once a Jacobin, always a Jacobin"; the virtues of church establishments (letters); principles and prudence in politics - "The Friend"(1809-1810); property and responsibility - "A Lay Sermon" (1817). Part 5 The idea of the constitution - "Church and State" (1829). Part 6 A few late reflections - Coleridge on the 1832 Reform Act: House of Commons; government; popular representation; conduct of minister on the Reform Bill - the multitude; ministers and the Reform Bill; disfranchisment; moral law of polarity; Professor Park - English constitution - democracy.