There was a useful debate in the House of Lords
on Tuesday when Lord Clarendon proposed the reform of that House. He suggested that the House should be reconstituted by limiting for each Parliament the number of hereditary Peers who may sit to one hundred and `fifty, and by the appointment of one hundred and fifty Lords of Parliament in proportion to the parties in the House of Commons. The hereditary Peers entitled to sit would be elected by their fellow-Peers, and the Lords of Parliament would be nominated by the Crown. Lord Clarendon also proposed that in addition to these three hundred members the Crown should have the power to appoint a limited number of Life Peers. Princes of the Blood Royal and Law Lords would sit ex officio. Bishops would take their chance with those Peers who were elected by their own order. He suggested five spiritual Peers as a desirable number. Peeresses would be entitled to vote for the one hundred and fifty hereditary Peers and would also themselves be eligible.
