The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-06
Saronet and Privy Councillor, Now
Here, Raised Interesting Ques-
ton by Effort to Resign

~baronetcy there Is no instance on
record Of any revocation Of the
patent of that dignity since its first
institution by James l., a little over
800 years ago. There are cases In
English history Of a peer being dis
peered-in olden times. But the an
nails of the realm will be sought In
vain for any mention OF a disbaron-
etage. The difficulty in the way Of
the revocation Of a ~baronetcy lies
in the fact that It is a hereditary
honor. and that English Law no longer
permits the so-called corruption Of
blood" that is to say. the visiting Of
children. save in the rare cases Of
high treason.
Although Baronets, as a class, have
for some reason or other an unen-
viable reputation among the people.
and the villain in almost every melo-
drama presented on the British stage
is a wicked Baronet." yet the hold
ers OF this particular hereditary dig
nifty have managed to keep their
hands entirely clean. as far as high
treason Is concerned. and although
a fair number OF them have been con-
victed Of ordinary felony and suffered
the penalties provided by the law for
such offences, yet their crimes have
never affected In any way the descent
OF their title to their legitimate heirs.
IL Crown and Government cannot
annul n peerage or a baronetcy. save
by legislative action. in the case Of
high treason alone. neither can the
holder Of these dignities through crea-
ton or inheritance ALLEVIATE or re-
nounce them. In the case Of the
new creation OF these honors the per-
son to whom they are offered in the
name Of the Crown Is free to refuse
them. and there are hundreds OF in
stances of the de%clination OF these
dignities. But once accepted, and Off
cially gazetted, they become inalien-
able. and have to be borne by the
recipient. and by his lawful descend
ants in the male line, no matter, how
heavy or obnoxious the burden.
Sir Edgar Speyer stands to-day in
the position OF a Baronet "malgre
lui," that Is to say. in spite of him.
self. He may ind comfort In the
knowledge hat there are a number
Of peers Of the realm in the same
position, who have vainly endeav-
ored in every possible way to divest
themselves OF their status as heredi-
tarv legislators.
Many a promising political career in
the House Of Commons has been cut
short by an altogether unwelcome
succession to a peerage. and al one
time there were near a dozen brilliant
young politicians. headed by George
Nathaniel Curzon-afterward Niceroy
OF India and now Earl OF Curzon-
who invoked every known OF
the law. Of the land to escape the in
%heritance of the family honors and tc
render II possible for them to retain
their status as commoners on the
death of their fathers. Among the
number was the Hon. Bernard Cole-
ridge, eldest son OF the late Lord
Chief Justice C~oleridge.
He was on unfriendly terms with
his father, who had married a young
wife, against the wishes OF his chill
dren, and who not only deprived his
heir Of any allowance while alive bu,
bequeathed every vestige OF property
to his widow at his death. Bernard
Coleridge, who was a rising young
lawyer with n growing practice, anC
thanks TO his activities in the House
OF Commons in sight of lucrative po-
litical p~referment, therefore suddenl,
found himself confronted by the ne,
cessity of maintaining the dignity o
a peerage without the necessar,
means for the purpose, and even de
prived OF his prospects in the Hous,
OF Commons and to a great extern
OF his livelihood. For since the Hous,
or Lords is the highest tribunal o
the realm. and Coleridge az a pee
became. ipso facto, a member of that
tribunal, there were very serious oh
stacles in the way of his continuin.
his practice as a mere member of tn,
bar. Thus he might find h!msel
pleading as a barrister before a Judg,
whose decision he would eventual,
be called upon to uphold or revers,
on appeal to the House of'Lords. tina
is to say to the court Of ultimate ap
peal.
AS his case vas a particularly har,
n special consideration was give,
thereto by the great law officers O
the Crown. by the courts and by tn,
House OF Lords itself. But ii wa.
unanimously decided that an inheritet
peerage "pertained to the blood AM
could not be %alienated or discarded a