5 NOVEMBER 1927, Page 34

THE HOUSE OF LORDS IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. By A.

S. Turberville. (Clarendon Press. 2154— The political history of England from the Revolution of 1688 to the ministry of the younger Pitt cannot be thoroughly understood without some knowledge of the magnates—the Venetian oligarchy, as Disraeli called them—who, through their control of borough seats, dominated the House of Commons and the Cabinet. Mr. Turberville, realizing this, made a detailed study of the House-of Lords under William III. which appeared just before the War. He has now continued that useful work from the reign of Anne to George III.'s triumph over the Whigs in 1783. His new volume is excellent both.-in conception and in execution, and should be regarded as an indispensable companion to anyhistory the Hanoverian

period. Mr. Turberville is careful to indicate the family connexions of the prominent figures and to emphasize the disadvantage at which a mere commoner like the elder Pitt or Burke was placed in contending with peers. The younger Pitt transformed the Upper House by the numerous creations which he recommended, and the charactei of the peerage after his time was completely changed. -