The Sun. — 1856-02-08 (London, England)

LYNDHURST—That case, again, has no bearing upon the question, because at the time when the marquisate of Dublin was conferred upon Robert De Vere, ho was already entitled, as Earl of Oxford, to a seat in Parliament. There is another similar case to which the same answer will apply. The Earl of Bedford, the King's uncle, was created Duke of Aquitaine ; but he likewise was already a member of your lordships' house. The next case was oleo in which a lady was created a countess for life, but that, too. cannot apply. And now, my lords, what was the state of things in the reign of Richard IL, which is the strong point of the case of those who support life peerages ? Why, my lords, at that, the most turbulent period in our annals, the barons and the King were at perpetual war—the King and the barons alternately getting the upper hand—the King compelled by the barons to execute a commission trausferring all the authority of the Crown to certain pereoeu named tu that instrument—learned judges consulted by the Crown as to the validity of the docaneent they giving their opinions that the instrument was illegal --the barons seizing their pemeons, executing without form of trial the Chief Justice, and banishing the rest of the judges by way of mitigation of their sentence—then the King obtaining a triumph over the barons, and the Duke of Gloucester being thrown into prison and murdered —the barons again getting the upper hand, seizing the person of the King, imprisoned him at Pomfret, and murdered him there. Can any precedents be obtained from a turbulent time of this description that can be 'of the slightest use in discussing the proper exercise of the powers of the Crown ? In the following reign (that of Henry IV.) there is no instance alleged -in support of life peerages. Henry V., in the flush of his popularity, in the first year of his reign, created his brother Duke of Bedford for life. He created another brother Duke of Gloucester for life ; and he created his cousin Earl of Cambridge for life; but this latter personage never took his seat, and was executed in the following year for treason. The grants to the Duke of Bedford and to the Duke of Gloucester were soon after\verde surrendered, and new peerages in the usual form descending to their heirs were substituted for them. (Hear.) There were also casts in which the Duke of Dorsetshire was created Duke of Exeter, and the Earl of Warwick, Earl of Albemarle for life ; but to those cases the principle I have already laid down-applies—the parties were already members of the House of Peers. An additional case has been cited. It occurred in the reign of Henry VI., at the end of the contest between the Duke of Gloucester and the Bishop of Winchester. It is said thatJ. Cornowayll, who had married the gilpen,3 aunt, Sir for life by the title of Lord Faunh was created a baron Bat there are no sufficient groanespieeransadpLpeosridnglltihibatrotkheis. was a life peerage; on the cnntrar jy,,e,e4 the peerage was conferred in the presence of Partin, and it is natural to suppose that the new baron had conferred the rights and privileges of the peerage, he upon. him all g that of transmitting his dignity to his descendants. ill ewes, it should be remembered, are included All these period of about 40 years. There are nonegaonf totheblelietet.l2l)af Charles when our constitution first be or of the still more important period of the Revelutie; when the constitution ultimately took the form it eiew! wears; and will you say that the cases I have cited are sufficient to justify the Crown in new modelling this house? (Cheers.) , DI9 lords. allow me to say that it is a flagrant violation as it strikes me—if I may use such a strong expression—of the great principles upon which our constion is founded. I am always afraid to omit anyway have beeu adverted to, lest it should be tthhainugghtthalt am apprehensiv.e.of_dealbeg with it. There is, Henry