Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-12-10

A DESCRIPTION OF THIS IMPORTANT DEPART
MESr OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT -
CHANGES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN
THE PEEIAGE.
From Harper's Magazine for Decemberl
The House of Lords is composed Of the
Lords spiritual and temporal In the reign
of Henry Ill. 123 preates and only % tenn
poral lords composed the house. AT the
time of Henry VIII. the spiritual and tenn
poral lords were about equal in number AT
the present time the spiritual LORDS are the
archbishops Of Canterbury and York and "A
bishops of the church of England. They are
lords of parliament only, and not peers. The
lords temporal are dukes marquises, earls,
viscuunts and barons, whose titles are all
hereditary Tho title of duke was first con-
ferred on Edward the Black Prince, whom
Edward Ill created duke of Cornwall
Marauises were originally lords of the
marches, or borders, and derived their title
from the offices held by them. The first who
was created marquis was Robert lie We're,
earl of Oxford, in l9S. Earls were in ex-
istence before the conquest, under the title
carldormer, and 10 these lords the admins
traliOn of the shires was committed. After
the conquest they were called counts, and
hence
THE SulEES NEEE CALLED
Viscounts were first created in the reign
OF Henry VI, and the title of baron was IN
existence long before the Norman conquest.
The number of the House of Lords is not
limited. In the reign of Henry VII. the
temporal peers were increased only ~ at
the death of Elizabeth they were increased
TO GO the Staurts raised the number to $50,
which William Ill. and Queen Anne still
further increased TO 16S. On the union of
Scotland in 1907, IL peers of Scotland were
added and on the union OF Ireland in 1900,
| IS peers of ireland. Since that time numer
Gus additions have been made, so that the
present time, in addition to 20 lords spiritual,
there are sitting in the House of Lords five
peers of the blood royal, 2l dukes. 10 mar
uuises. 1l3 earls 81 viscOunts. go barons,
! IA Scottish representative peers elected for
each paaliament and 81 Irish elected for life.
making n total in the house of 800 lords
| spiritual and temporal. Though the titles OF
the lords are hereditary, the peeragc Is CON
stantly undergoing changes, resulting from
extinctions and additions.
OF THE SIXTY PEERAGE
\ in existence at the death of Elizabeth, 40 are
now extinct. The blood of the people is
constantly finding its way into the channels
| of the peerage, and new and fresh elements
are taking the place of those who have died
out and disappeared. Diapers, tailors,
apothecarirs. wool dealers, silk workers,
merchants, jewellers, goldsmilhs tradesmen,
barbers coal dealers, money lenders, and
| manufacturers were ancestors of many who
/ now boast of their noble blood. The most
] striking instances are those of Lord Tenter-
| den the grandson of barber, Lord Clifford,
/ the son of a grocer; Lord Belconsfield, the
/ son of an author; Lord Truro the son of a
tradesman, who married the cousin of the
| Queen Lord Eldon, the son of Il coal agent ;
| Lord Clydc, the son OF a cabinet maker :
| Lord Peterborough, the son of country
clergyman; Lord Ashhurton, n merchant ;
and Lord l.yndhurst, the son OF n portrait
painter. the American tOplcy. In the
House of Lords IL the throne occupied by
the Queen at the opening of Parliament and
in front nf the throne is
THE wooIsAcK
occupied by the lord chancellor sort OF OF
toman with sack of wool for a seat, an
emblem of the source Of England's national
wealth The spiritual lords and the admin
isirative party sit on the right, the opposi-
ton nn the lett, and the nentrals ON the cross
benches between the two \ quorum of the
lords is three. and important measures aIe
| often passed Win less than twenty members
present Though the house Of lords has M
power to originate money bills, it has II per
feet right to initiate other measures II right
so rarely exercised. however, that it is now
generally understood that the province Of
the peers is chiefly To control and amend pro-
iccts of legislation which cmauatc from the
commons The most distinguishing feature
of the lords is their judicaturc. which relates
to the trial Of peers, claims of pceraCe and
officers of honor, and contested elections oi
peers of Scotland and Ireland. They conSti-
tutc the supreme court Of judicature, the
tribunal OF appeal in the last resort, and
the court for trial of cases of Impeachment.
Though apparently II branch of the govern
ment representing the aristocracy, 50 far
from being an element from which danger
may arise to the liberties of the people, the
house OF lords serves only as II wholesome
regulator TO the legislation OF the commons.