During his reign, George I spent only about half as much of his time overseas as had William III, who also reigned for thirteen years. Jeremy Black has argued that George wanted to spend even more time in Hanover: "His visits, in 1716, 1719, 1720, 1723 and 1725, were lengthy, and, in total, he spent a considerable part of his reign abroad. These visits were also occasions both for significant negotiations and for the exchange of information and opinion...The visits to Hanover also provided critics with the opportunity...to argue that British interests were being neglected...George could not speak English, and all relevant documents from his British ministers were translated into French for him...Few British ministers or diplomats...knew German, or could handle it in precise discussion."