I. Introductory
II. The feudal spoils system
III. Influence of despotism on administration
IV. Administration under the Tudors and until Cromwell
V. Cromwell's administrative system
VI. Public service under Charles II and James II
VII. The new system of administration under William III
VIII. Party government from Anne to George III
IX. Administration under George III
X. The Reform Period after the fall of Lord Bute
XI. The improved condition after the fall of Lord North
XII. Administration under George IV
XIII. Partisan system waning and examinations introduced
XIV. Final contest between patronage and open competition
XV. Open competition introduced into British India
XVI. Government inquiry and report leading to the introduction of the new system in 1853
XVII. How the new system was received
XVIII. The first order for a Civil Service Commission and competitive examinations
May, 1855
XIX. The first five tears under the new system
XX. Parliamentary investigation of the new system in 1860
XXI. Development of the new system from 1860 to 1870
XXII. The Order for Open Competition in 1870
XXIII. First experience of Open Competition
XXIV. Parliamentary inquiry into the Civil Service in 1873
XXV. The Executive Investigation of 1874
XXVI. The results of the merit system based on Open Competition in British India
XXVII. The practical operation of the merit system since 1875
XXVIII. Concerning parts of the old spoils system excluded by the Constitution of the United States
XXIX. Some practical tendencies and relations of the reformed method
XXX. The merit system in the Great Departments
XXXI. Social, moral, and international bearings of the new system
XXXII. A summary, and the significance of the Reform Movement
XXXIII. The bearing of British experience upon Civil Service Reform in the United States
Appendix A. Opinions concerning the British Civil Service
Appendix B. Some consideration of views expressed
Appendix C. Civil Service reform under President Grant.