Star.
London, England, 1831-09-19 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

STATISTICS OF PEBRAOSS
OR, SENATES OF THE TWO WORLDS.
At the present critical moment, when the
Peerages of two of the most civilized countries in,
the world form the focus of public attention, a
pamphlet.by M. DyIAN has opportunely appeared
in Paris under the French title—literally translated
—of " A Picture of the Organisation of the
First Chamber." It is an exceedingly interesting.
work, displaying much political and historical re-
search, and our readers will readily give a, few
minutes of their time to a synopsis of it.
The researches of M. Dufan may be re-
duced to two brief sentences : first, that
PEERAGES (the first Chamber) are hereditary
the whole or in part, wherever there is an
'aristocracy ; second, that Peerages exist for a
defined period, or for life, wherever there is no
aristocracy. That is the general rule ; but to every
rule there are exceptions, and in this instance, die
exceptions are particularly deserving of note. For
e xample,— Pea cz, with a noblesse only titular,
has in its present state an hereditary chamber; on
the other hand, POLAND, with a pure aristocracy,
has but a first chamber, or peers for life.
The Constitutions of eighteen different states
are reviewed in the work of M. Duran ; and an
analytical table at the end of the pamphlet recapi-
tulates the precise condition and constitution of
their peerages It shows that hereditary peerages
exist only in England, the Duchy of Baden, Ba-
varia, France, the Duchy of Hesse-Darm-
stadt, • Hungary, and Wirtemberg. The
number of peers is unlimited, except in
England, France, and Hungary ; 'and in all
these countries, the power -of 'nomination,
vested in the chief of the state, must I.e in
accordance with hereditary right. In some of the
German states however, that right is limited; in
one alone—the Duchy of Baden— the election by
the noblesse and the universities is amalgamated
with the pretensions of birth and the prerogative
of the Prince.
The age of admission is variously fixed by these
constitutions; it varies from 21 to 40 years. The
constitutions which are most democratic are those,
of course, which require the greatest maturity of
reason and years in the Senators. Certain condi-
tions of fortune are prescribed in all the eighteen
states, except in the constitutional states of Ger-
many, (not including Hesse-Darmstadt), in
Poland, Belgium, Brazil, and some other republics
of South America.
The duration of the exercise of the Peerage
functions is limited in all the states, excepting
those where the chamber is re-elected ; and the
period varies from one to nine years. Five States
only admit of indemnities to the members of the'
Upper Chamber:—these are the Brazils, the,
United States, Hayti, Holland, and Norway. The
extraordinary right of sitting as a High Court ap-
pertains only to ten out of the eighteen, namely,
England, Brazil, the United States, Prance, Hayti,
Hungary, Norway, La Plata, Poland, and Wirtem-
burg. Of the eighteen Constitutional States
which possess a Peerage, or High Chamber, nine
are governed by Kings namely, England, Bava-
ria, Belgium, France, 'Holland, Hungary, Norway,
Poland, (?) and Wirtenshing, One alone Brazil,
is submitted to an Emperor : two, Baden and
Hesse•Darmatadt, are obedieit to *Grand Dukes :
six are constituted Republics, and have Presidents,
a Director, either temporary or for life. •
On this occasion, we have confined ourselves to
the above statistical enumeration, without mixing
up a single political inference or conclusion from
the premises. The work of M. Dufan gives ample
scope for considerations of all kinds ; end we are
assured had no slight influence amongst our neigh-
bours, is the recent sweeping measure regarding
the first Chamber. Having ample materials for
exposing the effects of hereditary influence in the
whole of the Eighteen States, we may be induced,
et an early period, to recur to the subject. '1:1

Moral and Political Instruction many the Working
Claws.—By R. DETIOIII2I.
Some time back the Esaissiner called the atten•
tion of the public to the writings and labours of
Detrosier, who, before then. bad been almost un-
known beyond the sphere of his own operations.
Till then the higher classes, and even the most be.
nevolent of them, had been in so g.re.:t and woeful
ignorance of the real wants of the labouring classes,
that the utmost extent of philanthropy had been
to consider them as human beings, whose
physical wants and deprivations were unnaturally
numerous, and that these should be diminished as
much as t ossihle. Of late years, however, the
area of instruction has been considerably widened ;
' and, to the irrecoverable horror of high-churchmen,
country squires, and most respectable old gentle-
women, the
,poor are taught not only to read and
'write, but are even admitted to a share in the arena
of practical science, which still remains as styled
volumes to the majority of these reverend and ri-
vrFtable objectors. Still much, very much, re-
alising to be done, and the rich are bestowing ad-
Iritte and assistance to the poor, much in the same
'misy that a benevolent 'man might attempt to relieve
toe wants of a dumb fellow-creature. The
rgns s by which these wants were indicated;
ihere , misinterpreted not wilfully, but from
'the want of that • mutual iatelligence which
was indispensably necessary to a right un-
derstanding between the parties. At length.how-
ever, the poor have found an organ to express their
real wants— the dumb have been gifted with the
power of speech—one o has been reared,artiong
them ; wl:o has lived atinaboured with them; who
is therefore intimately acquainted with their ha-
bits, their virtues, their vices, and the causes of
them ; one who, if we may so say, is thoroughly
versed in their political economy, has stood for-
ward at once as a friend to them, and as an in-
structor to others ; and a heavy debt of gratitude
is due to Detrosier, not only from those whose
cause•he pleads, but also from those before whom
it is in a manner pleaded, and who are now, for
the first time, furnished with a clear andlurainous
statement of the real facts of the case.
Mr. Cleave has re-prin:ed an address lately de-
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