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We can hardly suppose that Parliament will ever reach the

proposed Bill to reform the House of Lords, but we hope that if the Bill is produced it will not attempt the folly of setting up an Upper House that would be a rival to the House of Commons. Any Upper House constituted by election, whether direct or indirect, is certain to be regarded jealously by the House of Commons, and will intentionally be kept weak. But surely a highly qualified and independent Upper House can render enormous services to the country by exercising the only function which the House of Lords now seriously claims— namely, the function of securing further consideration for Bills about which popular opinion manifestly hesitates.

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