New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-01-11

rs;sed him 10 the peerage, even, by virtue OF shs
nreroo.sve fling in the soveregps Of this ma.
iiop and told continuity, rs they recorded t. acts
or registered his sayings, OF what "his lordship"
Aid. or amy lord" said, on such or such On ocea-
sion Others. less bountiful in their dRpensaton of
honors. have been satisfied with making him sim
pie baronet or city knight and merely entitle him
"Sir Grantley," by way Of elevatiDg him above tho
vulgar level of common men. 1t does seem a. i'm
possible for native American to understand the
mysteries of English rank and precedence as 9
Frencbman finds il, who will persist in writing Of
Sir Peel ard Sir Wapole whenever he has occasion
to mention either of the great Sir Roberts who
ruled over England. And yet it is not trivial
piece of knowledge to one who would understand
the working of that marvellous piece Of machinery.
If We may not rather say, of vitality, tho Britain
Constitution.
But though we know Of this in6rmity Of our
countymen in general, we were little surprised to
find our sporting contemporary, Hakes's Spirit d
the Times, falling into the same error-than which
nothing can look more absurd TO English eyes. In
a lively article entitled "Tbe Patfican and the
/" PuJgilis.," describing an interview between Mr..
Berkeley and the Benicia Boy, in the editorial
sanctum Of that Journal the editor calls that gentle
man "out of bis name" every time he spesks OF
him, excepting the FIRST where be describes him By
his proper style as "the Hon Grantley Berkeley"
In the course of the rest of the article not long
ore. he chsracterizes him seven times % " tho
baropet," four times as " Sir Grantley," and
once as " the noble" On the FIRST occasion Of be-
slowing baronetcy upon bis subject, be calls him
" the gallant baronet" We would imply no Inn.
putaton on Mr. Berkeleys gallantry many sense Of
the word, but the editor should know that tho
epithet gallant" is used in England only to
qualify the appelatiOns of gentlemen in the military
or naval service, when speaking of them in public.
This, however, is of no importance; but We think
Mr.. Berkeley bas reason to complain of bis Ameri-
can friends for promoting him backward TO q
baronetcy. As the younger son of an Ear! he not
only outranks baronets and knights Of all sorts, but
Judges, Privy Councillors, and almost all Official
digpitaries not members of the House of Lords,
excepting the Speaker of the House Of Commons.
And this not by courtesy but BY the statutes Of the
Realm.
This havoc in his style and title would have been
less strange had Mr Berkeley belonged to almost
any other house than the one whose name he bears.
There are quantities of Lord Mount Coaeehsuses
and Cousin FeeniIes of whose family snteocdents
it ia no shame to be ignorant. But the Berkelsys
have been SO much mixed up with the history, pub
Lie and private, of this century, that man Of av-
erage information can hardly help knowing the
chief facts concerning them. Indeed, their family
history furnishes much matter of curious and almost
romantic interest For instance, the lawful Earl
of Berkeley, whose name has been on the rolls Of
the House of Lords for fifty years, and who can
take bis place there at any moment he pesses, has
never assumed the title or accepted his rank. He
chooses to consider himself only as the Hon. Thomas
Moreton Berkeley, rather than smirch the fair fame
Of bis mother and bastardize his elder brothers.
We believe that Mr.. Grantey Berkeley is his next
brother, and, upon his death, will succeed to his
barren coronet if, indeed he should aao refuse to
acknowledge the justice Of the decision Of tho
House Of Lords, under which only be could claim
peerage.
The last Earl Of Berkeley, many of or readers
will remember, married Miss Mary Cole, who was
he mother Of his large family of children. Tho
uestion which the House of Lords set led, in 1910.
the death of Lord Berkeley, was, whether the
marriage took place in 1855 or 1876, and they de-
cided it in favor of the latter date. Accordingly,
the eldest son, known till then BY the courtesy
title of Viscount Dursley, became plain Colonel
Berkeley, and was well known under that title till
he was created Lord Segraye in 1881, and Earl
FitzhardiDge in 1882 The son first born after tho
marriage of 1895 was declared the lawful heir TO
the title The family do not recognize the equity.
though they must the force, of the decision of tho
House of Lords. On the death Of Lord FitE-
hardiDge, his next brother Vice-Admiral Sir Maui
rice Berkeley, X. C. B., resigned his place as .
Lord of the Admiralty, and his seat as Member for
Gloucester, on the ground as We conceive, that he
was de- Hrs Earl of Berkeley, and so incompetent
to sit in the lower House and to hold an official post
properly pertaining to cOmmoner. The estates,
including Berkeley Castle were settled carefully on
the eldest son, and on the other sons 10 order.
And year ago Sir Maurice Berkeley preferred
claim 10 o writ to the House of Lords as Baron
Berkeley by tenure Of Berkeley Castle, the Duke
of Norfolk holds the Esrldom of Arundel by pos
session of the Castle Of that name. This claim 10
yet undecided; but if it be adjudged upon accord
ing to clear precedents, it would seem to be one
hard to be denied But it would DO an odd
revival Of on obsolete anomaly, by virtue Of which
the owner of the Castle might raise any one he
pleased to the peerage by the conveyance of tho fec