The reform of the Lords has been mooted by a
Peer, and the Lords are startled. On Friday week, Lord Rosebery, in a speech brimming over with humour, eloquence, and knowledge of his subject, moved for a Committee of Inquiry into the best means of increasing the efficiency of the House of Lords, which he -contended was declining. There were no less than one hundred and sixteen men within the House, past Ministers, former Ambassadors, Bishops, Governors-General, Speakers, Judges, and others, of whose aid any legislative body in the world would be proud ; but they accomplished very little. Government did not attend to their resolutions ; there was often no attendance, ansl nothing drew a full House except a party vote. Nothing
as represented in the House, except the Church, landed pro- perty, and the hereditary principle ; whereas all great influences in the State, including even labour, ought to be represented. He disclaimed all plans, wishing the inquiry to be free, but hinted that picked and representative assessors would greatly strengthen the House; and in a most striking peroration, which rose altogether above his usual light-hearted felicity of speech, he called upon their Lordships to reform themselves while no one could say they were acting under panic or pressure ; to notice that the House of Commons, for the third time, was broadening, and strengthening, and sinking deeper its founda- tions; and to remember that they themselves had a triple -responsibility, for their own honour, for the honour of their ancestors, and for the honour of their posterity. We have discussed this fine speech elsewhere.
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