Time is measured as a linear human construct, but events take place concurrently and reactions are often uncontrollable and immeasurable. Reliability of info gives power when you monopolise the flow of information and the very information that is communicated. We need to highlight the power of information in the 18th century was absolute. Word got out only when the powers that be wanted it to get out and no more. Managing that vacuum of information was extremely beneficial both financially and in terms of power. Maybe even more so than today. In this talk about Spencer Compton and Henry Pelham, we remain very much within the shadow of Robert Walpole, so great was his influence on the time. There is a lot of jumping to and fro, but we get there in the end.

It’s taken such a long time to get this podcast out. We talk about some of the votes c ...