8 OCTOBER 1881, Page 3

Mr. Gladstone has made six new Peers. The Marquis of

Tweeddale, Lord Howth, and Lord Reap—formerly Baron Mackaye, of Holland—have received British titles, with seats in the House of Lords ; while Sir Harcourt-Johnstone has been made Baron Dement, Sir Henry Tufton Baron Hothfield, and Sir Dudley Coutts Marjoribanks Baron Tweedmouth. It must be melancholy work for a Liberal Premier, this making of Peers. He must reward his followers, and he therefore gives peerages, but he must wish so that in giving them he could improve the House of Lords. It is a futile hope. An old Peer, head of a historic house, may be a Liberal, or even a Radical; but a new Peer, and still more a new Peer's son, either feels bound to be a Tory, or being relieved of responsibility to con- stituents, lets wilfulness master him, and becomes one. Many of the Peers recently created have not had even the decency to wait for a pretext, but have ratted at once. People smile, but this tendency of new Peers is one of the many reasons which make the permanent continuance of the House of Lords impos- sible. No care, or dexterity, or liberality in giving coronets will make the Upper House anything but the deadly oppo- nent of every Liberal Government in succession. Some day, some Premier will be compelled to observe that a drag- chain on a journey uphill is unfair on the working animals, and will take it off, perhaps with a hammer.