Prince George of Wales, now the ultimate heir to the
Throne, was on the Queen's birthday created Duke of York, Earl of Inverness, and Baron Killarney. The title has not in recent times been a popular one, owing to the scandal given by George III.'s son, who was compelled to resign the command of the Army because his mistress sold commissions ; but it is historical, and grander, somehow, than most of the titles which have been absorbed by the Royal family. The Duke, it is affirmed, has now recovered from the shock given him by his illness, and by his brother's death, and we shall doubtless bear before February next of his betrothal. Two peerages are given this year, one to Sir Evelyn Baring, who perhaps deserves one best of all men in the Queen's service, and who, we hope, will be the next Viceroy of India; and one to Sir H. Selwin-Ibbetson, who has done good Parlia- mentary work of the secondary kind. Baronetcies are bestowed on Mr. F. S. Powell, M.P., and Mr. H. Wiggin, M.P., which have been, we suppose, deserved ; and a shower of knighthoods has fallen upon old officials of the permanent service, and two or three men of scientific repute. Even literature is not forgotten, for we pre- sume Mr. H. H. Howorth's claim to the K.C.I.E. is his "History of the Mongols," which few people, we fear, have read, but which will be a mine for the next historian who cares about Tartars, and has the art, so indispensable in our days, of securing audiences. Both Mr. Lecky and Mr. Gardiner rank as historians before Mr. Howorth, but they are not M.P.'s ; and it is sound policy for the State to honour authors who do well the kind of work which the public will never buy.
