' 'TITLES.
THE Court Circular announces that" the Honourable A. Smith," and other "Ilononrable " gentleraen from the North American Colonies have had interviews with Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton at the Colonial Office and it appears to us that this re- cognition of the " Honourable" in Colonial representatives is an innovation. 'Whatever the (bort M.eular may have done, here- tofore' it has been the custom officially, to iguere a title aeanired in the Colonies. The, " honour" was solely local ; and if that- old bad ignorance, fgr-Sach it was literally, is now to he reversed, it is an immense improvement, indicating a vast and beneficial, change in the influences that bring the several parts of the British Empire together. We have discontinued legislating for the in-: ternal affairs of our colonies; we do not meddle with their eco-. nomical arrangements ; the links that bind the, empire together are few and slender ; but we can Make them our partners in a, generous policy before the, rest of the World, and above all we can still, in the face af democratic encroachment, continue to be "the, fountain of honour." Titles are trivial things in a mereliteral. aspect ; but when they are the type and sign Of a generousspirit of intercourse, they acquire a. trim moral value; and a title whiek should. identify the notables of each colony- with the 'strength,. dignity, and power, of the empire, at the heed ef which is placed, our Q,ueen, would unquestionably help to restore the feeling of affection in all cur dependencies, increasing the effective power- of the whole empire. Indeed the whole subject of titles might now be revised with. reference to some few practical iniprovements, simple, easy, arid very advantageous. For instance, what is the title-of Queen 'Vic- toria? According to the illuminators of Bombay it is Queen Of England, Empress of Madostan." If we cannot accept the tran- script of an illumination as authentic, we have an official setting forth of the Queen's style and title at the head, of the new Incr.= proclamation, "Victoria, by the grace of God, of the United Kingdom of great Britain and Ireland, of the Colonies and depen- dencies thereof in Europe, Asia, Africa, America, and Australia, Queen, Defender, of the Faith. Q,ueen of England is a higher title than Empress; and this -summary of her Majesty's territories annexed to that simple title does not form altogether a bad style for the /proclamation. If the title " Pefeniter of the Faith," so strangely acquired by one: of Queen. Vietoria!s predecessors, be retained to express the principle of her rule over those world-wide colonies and dependencies, it must certainly be interpreted in no narrow or illiberal fashion.
While frequently parading titles that are obsolete, it is the cus- tom in this country, where usage amounts to slavery, to shrink from the assertion of a new title. Hence one of the latest aug- mentations has already fallen almost into desuetude. It was considered a great advantage when Ministers invented the honorary distinction of " C.B., ' in order to recognize merit of a kind which did not rise to the older reeognitiOns of the Garter or the Bath ; while the hanour should not, as in the case of a ba- ronetcy, demand property to "sustain its dignity." But what peouliar blessing is conveyed by the creation of a C.B. ? How is the owner made conscious of his exalted condition ? Especially how does he make others conscious of it ? Scarcely ever does he the' lmstowe'd upon hini byroyaltteree. pt througii of a letterhy the post, or the publication of hbiVlist; when he has the beatitude of seeingtwo ini- iiillh'afteAns, name. Now the simplest of all regulations would giveu trairent validity to the distinction.. Let the designatioa.be used as a title. DO not let us talk of Edwin Clualavidt, t let us speak of "" Companion Chadwick?' The nse'of tl1fronf its novelty, 'would provoke a smile for tteitty-forre hours ; tit everybod,y would soon be accustomed to the adund ; and -the bearer of the distinction would for the first time realize his exeltatira in society. If there is any value in such honorary afigiimatatives the point is worth the Rracticali attention of the depart-talent. Nay, whether lffinzitera made it worth their e or not, there is another authority Which could issue the proper edict. 'If .the -limes resolved henceforward to draer out this dormant title and give it social currency, the rule would be etitalkished.within it week.
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