The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-05-21
A Question Answered.

a correspondent inquiries how Lord
John Russell bears peers title, he being
no peer, but member Of the Commons
; House of Parlument2 As the answer may
, supply information to more than one per
! son, we give it,
In England there arc upwards of four
THOUSAND persons who enjoy titles by cour.
tesy. These are the sons and daughters Of
living or deceased peers, and, in some eases.
their grandchildren or collateral relatives.
persons who are called "Lord," or lady,"
or "llnnorablr." Every Peer is called
"Right Honorable" and no other person is
| enrl,led to thai, prefix, unless he be mem
Der of the Privy Council Though mem-
Der of the House of Commons is spoken of
as my honorable frienl," or the honorable
gentleman, he is not addressed as such on,
| OF that House. Thus the present Chanrcl-
or of the Exchequer was plain Brrjamin
Di>ra"l, Esq, until he WAS sworn in as
':r'nbrr of the lhivv Council, when he be-
camc "'Thr Right Honorable Brujalmin
Di>ra"h." In other words, neither IL seat in
the House, nor any official status, makes Il
man "IInnonhl." in England. Mobile
u
ants Of Peers ex"u>ivr y receiving it.
Lord John Russell is Youngest son of the
late Duke Of Bedford. Strictly speaking.
he is not entitled to have "Lorl" prciixrd
to his Christian name, and the official an-
nounre'nent, in the Lon'lon Gazette. of his
being elected TO sill in tn. House of Com.
nous would run. "tle Right IInnor.l-
Joan Russell, commonly called Lord john
l;n>>rli. 1.-The were not Il Privy Council.
l"r he would m plain "J"hn Russell.
f.>q"'"." Courtesy gives him the prefix 'f
: Lo'd." The Suns and daughters of a Duke
o: "i Marquis are entitled (bv courtesy to
Il" called Lords" AMI "Lnlic<" Thus ihy.
Duke OF l5"'lIord's Youngest son. as "" see,
Is Lord John Russell" and the Marquis Of
An%leSra's y"urgrst son is "Lori Grnrmr
Pagrt.' The Younger chilIr"n "f E,rl
E'>'onn's. and Harons are simply "lInn"r
ahl".' The cllrst son Of Duke Is, if Il
minor, called after his farlrr'S next highest
tile-as the Marquis nf TaviStok is the
eldest son Of the Duke Of Bedford. and of
the Marquis Of Ang glcsea is Earl of Uxhri.lr.
An Ea'r< eldest son g'n"ra!'v is called a.
ter the Fi>r"un,s-as Vi-.ount Stuart i
'''' - >'ii w lllC l-itli oi tll!l.
with Ei>'oun's-aS Baron II;ll l. -l.l"~. son
of Fi>r""nt Hill The son Of an 'lIonor,
able" would be plain Mr."
Although Il Dukes son, with n courtesy
title, Lord John Russell is r"n>i.i",r. "A
C"mmoncr, anil cannot sit in the Upper
House, unless he were male Peer. H.,
SITS in the House of Commons lv clr..tinn
anil has done So. without in'crniSsion, since
1918, when, at the mature age of twenty.
one. he WIS "clc.''ed' for the borough Of
Tavi>tnrk. brlonging to his father!
There is n great anomaly in permitting
sons "t rrrE-evcn eldest Sons, who will
INHERIT the p"rrag"s-t" sit in the mi>rali.d
Commons ll",,sr of Parliament. in which,
unless the name hr mo"kcrv AMI chra'
he P"opl" "n"ht to be represented for, i,
Is 'Inp'~Siblr hut that these courtesy "InrlS'
and "ll"noHhles" must generally speak ANIL
vote in favor of the Aris,ocracv, to which
birth and precleciions a'.arl, them. Ii
nobicn"ns sons were drrared ineligible to
sill in the Commons. England would Le bet
ter represented than she is.
As for Lord Pamers,on, hc is an Irish
peer, with no right TO sit in the British
House Of Lar's; is eligible to sea, in the
Commons. AMI, indeed. has been in that
House ever since 1SO7.-Ph,i. Press.