The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-19
ENGLAND's HOUSE OF LORDS.
How Some of the Biue-BlOod Peers Violate
Moral and Statute Laws.


who are Scotch OF Irish, and who, therefore, sit
by virtue Of an English title of inferior degree,
viz, as marquises or earls OF these twentysiX
dukes, then, how many of them take an active
part in the deliberations of the House of Lordsl
Two-the Duke of Argyll and the Duke of Rich
mond. Of the others, the Duke of Northumber
land was in the last cabinet as Lord Privy Seal
a most important office-and has since Lord
Beaconsields government collapsed, fallen back
into much obscurity as the second richest
duke in England could attain. A melancholy,
dismal old man he is, overpowered seem
ingly with sense of his own greatness
a greatness which would be vastly enhanced in
the estimation of many did he come in direct
line from the historic 'Hotspur" instead of pos
sessing the plebeian patronymic of Smithson,
which gracious sovereign kindly altered to
Percy, to suit the requirements of the title The
I Duke Of Marlborough is another peer whose line
is crooked.
Though a Churchill, still he does not come
down from the Grand Duke" As to the pres
ent Dukes fitness to make the laws of the land,
it need only be said that he is the infamous
blackguard liar, wife-beater, and profligate
scoundrel, the late Marquis of Blandford The
duke of Bedford is grasping miser, with-about
as much heart or generosity as a pawnbroler
He has lately distinguished himself by haggling
over the sale of a piece of land to the
Metropolitan Board of Works, when he
should have made present of it. He is enor-
mously rich his ancestors having ecquired, as
kings and queens favorites most valuable church
property taken by the crown upon the destruc-
ton of the mOnasteries.
The Duke of Westminster though the richest
duke in the land, with daily income thatwould
support many people for year, is another
miser whose mind seems only occupied with the
advancement of his own personal interests and
the qualification of the chronological quality of
amativeness, which he must possess to a. great
degree, to judge by his hasty marriage to IA
young cousin of his own, before decent term of
wldowerhood had been passed after the loss of
his wife, who, in her day, was the most voluptu-
ous-looking woman and striking beauty in high
life. The Duke of Sutherland passes most of
his time in forming joint-stock compa-
MES to buy land in Canada and the States
and his duties to his country as a legisla-
tor are perhaps about the last subject
to which he gives thought. The Duke of
Manchester is another promoter of foreign
schemes. He is what in England is called a
''poor duke" and so he has to do something to
make money He wouldn't be a very great loss
as a lawmaker. His and heir, Viscount
Vaudeville, is a wretehed specimen of noble
man. He is a drunkard of the most confirmed
sort, and his country cannot hope for much in
him either. Like Lord Biandford and some
others he is tabooed in London society, and finds
it more congenial TO stay in America as long as
he can. The Duke of Leeds is positive
entity. He is another poor duke. SO are the
Dukes of Athoe, Montrose and Buckingham.
The Duke of Beaufort is a horsy dandy, who has
been one of the ''mashers' of society for thirty
years. He cares more for the smile of Connie
Gilschrist the ort-pettcoated young 'gaiety'
actress, whose protector he has been since she
fourteen, than he does for the legislative
councils Of his native land. The Duke of Graf
ton is new man. His son, who will succeed
nm, and who became the Earl of EuStOn upon
his father succeeding to the dukedom the other
day. has already distinguished himself as an
arrant blackguard, and is married to and has
a family by notorious courtesan named Kate
Cross
The Duke of Portland poses as a good goody"
young man, and wins the approving smiles of
mammas and properly brought-up young ladies
the sort of man, in fact, who would (wera he
not stupendously rich) be cordially detested by
any girl of spirit who was fond OF having lark
His great-uncle, whom he succeeded two or three
years ago, had been $50 it was thought) leper
for many years and was never seen by anybody
The Duke of Norfolk, though no politician, is a
ste@dy sensible young man, and is thoroughly
liked by everybody. The Duke of Hamilton is
as everybody knows, reforming blackguard
So much for the dukes, Of course, have left
out the royal" dukes. Nobody ever counts
them, poor fellows. Politically speaking. they
have no will of their own. but must do what the
Prime Minister bids them They take no part
in the nations councils members of the House
of Lords, though all have seats in it. Now for
the marquses. There are nineteen of these
who sit as such in the Lords, besides those of
Scotland and Ireland, who have their seats by
virtue of lesser English titles. The Marquis of
Salisbury is the only one of whom great things
can be said. The Marquis of Abergavenny
pronounced Abergenny) the present head of
the Nevils is mediocre a man Us a hot
aIwavs ,lnnsmost in his mpd coo ho r nv Ra V
quis of Lansdowne has just been sent out to
he can bn SHARED from tbc House Of n, .ii9
the Marquis Of Ripon is the Vicerov Of InS f;l
Bnvond tbese fonT What as nnb G men u do d tbc
rest-wifh, perbaps, the excention Of tbe Ma
quis of Bute-amOunt to! Next in order come
the earls. The peerage is most prolific in This
degree. there being in the House Of Lords no less
than lis earls that sit as such. This number
does not include the Scotch and Irish earIs. Who
sit in the Lords as English viscounts or barons
+ Of them all Lord Granville. Lord KimberIey
Lord Cairns Lord Carnaryon. Lord SelborfG
and Lord Duffern are really the only ones who
are prominent in any way beyond The narrow
lie. OF the others Lord Hariwicke is an i'm
poverished spendthrift; Lord Dunmore is an am