Thanks for the book reference, I have added it to my future reading list. It has very positive reviews on Amazon. 
I remember covering this in history at school many years ago and have read several summaries as part of reading about Napoleon. I have always found it strange how the French revere Napoleon, where he is one of history's megalomaniacs. Although it might be because they have not had much in their history that was much of a success!

Like all French Hegmony, Napoleon ultimately was a failure as well. 
Indeed, from what I can remember, there was quite a lot of unrest in England and draconian laws were passed to stop the gathering of groups of people where the English nobility were so worried.
The book by Doyle you will find absolutely absorbing Rods2! As I said William Doyle is the historian for the French Revolution as in academic historian circles he is known to eat, breath and sleep the Revolution! Other historians have told me that what he does not know about the Revolution is not worth knowing.

Oh yes, the events of 1789, so soon after the French involvement in the American War of Independence and the preachings by Thomas Paine in support of People's Revolution, made the British government very nervous indeed. Edmund Burke, a Whig member of the House of Commons, in his book 'Reflections on the Revolution in France' (1790) was counteracted by the words of Paine in his piece "The Rights of Man" But Burke won some influence on especially the British middle classes, professional people, that had been the driving force behind the French Revolution, with his emphasis on the importance of British virtues of continuity, rank, property, and tradition, the founding principals of the Conservative party. Burke, along with very clever manoeuvring by the British government with giving the people just enough change to stop outright revolution. The situation actually lasted until around 1848, the year of further European revolution, with the British Government just again giving enough changes of law and political process, this time in answer to the Chartist movement, to keep the revolutionists at bay. An early British secret service, now we would call MI5, was at work also to keep the British Government one step ahead.
An absolutely fascinating time for British politics. However, there were still fears of revolution in Victoria reign, with 1888 coming very close to a British revolution again.
From what I can remember the Corn Laws from 1815 were also very unpopular and caused much discontent.
Presumably the 1888 difficulty was in the middle of the 1880 to 1896 depression, which badly affected the UK textile industry?
The Corn Laws commenced in 1670 in an attempt to control the price of grain, and it was revised a number of times, with 1815 being a crucial time as there was hundred of thousands of soldiers discharged from the army after 1815 which swelled the ranks of those seeking employment and the need for them to find food to survive. The price of corn, and thus bread, was not helpful at all.
Certainly the price of wheat was a regular concern around the end of the 18th century, with it leaping to 113s.10d per quarter in 1800 from 54s.9d ten years before. A further peak of 119s.6d in 1801, was followed by a significant price reduction, but then hit highs in 1810 (106s.5d); 1812 (126s.6d);1813 (109s.9d), with a dip again until 1817 (96s.11d). Coal prices also increased by a third over these years.
Then there was the Factories Act 1833 that restricted the working age, to over 9, and hours to 48 per week, of children thus reducing the amount families could earn. Amendments to that Act up to 1847 certainly improved the conditions for workers and their children, but still left them short of money as far as they were concerned. A way of life was being changed. The Poor Law Amendments Act of 1834 was not welcomed, and formed a part of the growing discontent. However the Reform Act of 1832 had started a process of political change that would satisfy many of those inclined to revolt over then unfair voting practices, and the unbalanced structure of the government.
It was by 1870 that the unrest created by Queen Victoria's virtual disappearance from society whilst mourning for years the death of Prince Albert, produced an uprising of republican feeling. Questions were apparently abounding as to whether the money spent on the Royal family could be justified with a growing population who were being reduced to poverty and appalling housing conditions. The reappearance of Victoria in the public domain in 1872 quelled the republican feelings, although they would remain in the background with 1888 a particularly difficult time, with Victoria's son 'Bertie', later Edward VIII, a rather irresponsible type who was seen to be acting the playboy, even becoming a witness in a divorce trial!
Oh yes, Britain and her government did well to avoid revolution from 1789 to the late 1880's. In the twentieth century that threat though would still be there.