THE LORD AND THE COBLER; AN IRRESPONSIBLE LEGISLATOR.
IT must be a source of satisfaction and comfort, and should be one of deep gratitude also to the people of these realms, that while the enemies of our venerable constitution, and especially of that most valuable portion of it the House of Lords, are active and unscru- pulous in working out their detrimental designs, men of wisdom and sobriety, in whose keeping we may safely leave our rights and liberties, are continually springing up among the "Heredi- tary Tribunes."
We had lately occasion to refer to the exploits of the premier Baron of England at the card-table; and it is delightful to think that his acute and active mind may any day be employed in dis-
pensing justice and punishing iniquity in the House of. Peers. The other day, too, we performed the pleasing duty of calling at-
tention to the performances of (we believe) the premier Baron of
Ireland, Lord WATERFORD; who exhibited his disdain of that aristocratic exclusiveness which is so offensive in the great, by
getting drunk in the streets and kicking up a row with policemen —just as if he were no better than a tipsy tinker. The country had no right to expect further exertions in the same line from the same nobleman, for the present at least ; but it had scarcely re covered from its admiration of the condescension of this illustrious hope of the Beiteseoeos, before he exhibited new claims upon the respect of his fellow countrymen. His Lordship being, as we- have said, above all vulgar prejudices, did not, it seems, disdain one night last week to exhibit his pugilistic powers in the saloon of Drury Lane Theatre. He there astonished the commonalty by twice knocking down a cobler ! and not content with this, and anxious that the full extent of his condescension should be dis- played, he adjourned to a field near Paddington, and there ex- changed three shots with the " snob," whom he was so gracious as to hit in the leg, at the third fire; then hastening to Curragh- more, satiated for once with fame, left him alone in his glory!
We have been thus particular in narrating this exploit, because the Marquis of WATERFORD is one of those exalted beings who are, according to Sir ROBERT PEEL, responsible only to Heaven
for their conduct. Were he and his compeers liable to be called to account like common, low-born mortals, their sphere of usefulness
might be miserably contracted. As it is, their appetite for good is unchecked : they cannot be restrained, but may deal as they will with the privileges and property of Englishmen. To suppose this power liable to abuse—how absurd ! Who can imagine, while the Peerage contains so many who resemble Lord WATER- FORD and Lord DE Ros, that aught but wisdom and justice will dictate the decrees of the High Court of Appeal ? Away, then, with the demoralizing and degrading stuff about responsibility! Let the People trust in the hereditary virtue of
an uncontrolled chamber of Peers; and let them rejoice in the
reflection, that, despite of the efforts of Reformers, Whig, Radi- cal, and Republican, neither Lord DE Ros nor Lord WATERFORD can be moved from the judgment-seat—that neither can be de- prived of the power to make laws first, and administer them after- wards—as long as their lives are spared to adorn and io bless our happy land, and illustrate the working of our " glorious cons stitution."
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