The times., 1899-12-31
BEING A BRITISH PEER.
Advantages and Drawbacks of the
Position as n Permanent Job.
(F-om the london Answers

tt-oIn the London AnsTeTs
II requires no end Of patient study for q
Iewly-Created peer to learn all his rights
and privileges. His secretary might hunt
for weeks. and then never discover them
all. They are laid down ezhaustively in
1 numerous dust-covered tones acts OF Par
lament, many Of which. though binding
today, have become utterly obsolete by
disuse.
1t IS curious to note for instance that
every time Parliament reopens, every one
OF the $50 peers, If his way to the House
I leads him through any OF Her Majesty s
1 deer parks. is entitled by royal charter to
kill one or two deer, and march away with
them as his lOrdly perquisjte. He may do
the same on his way home again, but in
I each instance he must give due notice of
mis- intention against the Geer's life by
footing his horn, and thus letting the for
ester known that sport Is afo0t. This is to
clear him from the charge Of stealing.
which would otherwise be preferred
against him.
L need not be said that this privilege
is one distinctly more honored in the
; breach than by observance. The Queen 5
Rangers would stare open-eyed at the Wis
ion OF the Lord Chancellor blowing his
horn and securing Windsor Park, blazing
right and left at the timid herd Of meek
eyed fawns grazing contentedly on the roy
al demesne But he is entitled TO do it.,
ali the same.
If a y0ung peer Of pugillstlc and com
bative tendency were to tackle you in the
streets. and Violently assault you. II would
be within your province to summon him
like an ordinary mortal at the police court;
but you may not know that were he to
breathe out the fercest denunc3atiCas and
Jareatenings against you for the future the
magistrate would not have the slightest
power 10 bind him over 10 keep the peace
To gain such an injunction against the
noble earl would require an application in
the high court Of Justice and possibly
might entail considerable outlay Of pounds
shilliRgs. and pence.
To look al it from the other side, sup
pose you punch the peer. II his lordshtp
cares 10 take q serious view OF the assault
il amounts TO Il very great crime. Il is
quite ~1ssiblc for II to be regarded as
CoHteIslt OF the whole House Of Pariia-
ment, and you may find yourself in for very
severe penalties.
Stranger than this. perhaps, is the fact
ihat you are liable TO b. similarly severely
punished if, instead Of his lordship you
should chance to exercise your fstic abili-
ties upon his choachTuau or footIaan This
seems ridiculous. until we remember that,
in olden days, 10 attend Westminster was
fraught with danger to the person, and 1t
was necessary TO infict heavy penalties in
order that the states Representatives
should have the necessary protection.
A peer Of the realm cannot be arrested
except for indictabIe offence, and in cases
OF treason or felony can only be tried by
his fellow peers and convicted by a ma
jority
The conductors Of modern scandal papers
lay themselves open 10 be pOunced upon
ana punished with the utmost rigor OF the
law for daring to utter the slightest sug-
gestion Of scandal against any Of Her Mai
osty's lords TO speak i'll of them is 10
commit the act Of scandalum magnatum, a
very heinous offence according to act OF
Parliament
A peer is rcver really obliged tC buy
stamps. though, now the penny postage is
II force no peer OF any standing would
avail. himself Of his privilege Of frankiug
letters post free.
Then, again, if he should have the bad
fortune to be involved in q ch8uccry suit
his word OF honor counts there as equiya
lent 10 an ordinary mans oath. II he il
a very progressive peer and has hit upon
an excellent project for some purpose OF
public benefit, be is fully entitled TO wait
upon the Queen in person and mention his
business. If he shoud happen 10 be bald
headed and is ashamed Of the fact he is
not bound TO remove his hat when he en-
ters a court Of justice.
Last of although there Is little conso-
Iation IN the fact-should he be condemned
to be hanged, he can demand a moose Of
silk