The Gout- (James Gillray 1799.) Rich Man's Disease. The constancy of change is the only thing in the universe that never changes. Yet, ever since our ancestors gained pleasure from stability, human beings have attempted to keep things the same when things are going well. It was only natural then, that the ruling class of Britain at the beginning of the 19th Century should attempt to sand-bag their castles against the inevitable rising tide of communication. Very quickly, powers realised that in a more open society you couldn't control the information so it was necessary to control the ideas. Even at this early date, those making moves to secure a stable empire realised the need for good P.R., and the century opened with a new country called The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Irish opinion was, of course, not sought at all in the push for this new branding . By the start of the 19th Century Britain's tree o