Grand old salesman
From Andrew Roberts
Sir: I wonder whether Paul Johnson is right to say that the modern practice of selling peerages for cash began under Lord Salisbury (And another thing, 13 May). The earliest documented example of it from that period came in 1891, with William Gladstone’s negotiations over baronies for the very rich Liberal MPs Sydney Stern and James Williamson. When he became prime minister, Lord Rosebery only agreed to honour the agreements once he was personally informed by Gladstone of the nature of the deals, and the two contributors became Lords Wandsworth and Ashton respectively. Lord Salisbury did nominate the shipbuilder and Tory party contributor Fortescue Flannery to a knighthood in 1899, but I believe that Gladstone rather than he began the modern practice.
Andrew Roberts London SW3
Summer hols for soldiers
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