16 AUGUST 1884, Page 3

A meeting to pass resolutions in favour of the abolition

of the House of Lords was held at St. James's Hall last Satur- day, Sir Wilfrid Lawson in the chair. Sir Wilfrid Lawson said that what was wanted was a Bill for disfranchising the Peers. Lord Richard Grosvenor, said Sir Wilfrid, in addressing his constituents, had lately said, " Do not let it go abroad that the Liberal Party are in favour of the abolition of the House of Lords." He thought that probably meant much what the man meant who said to the mob, when they got hold of an old offender, "Do not nail his ears to the pump." If we are to keep up the House of Lords, we must expect to get from it, in Sir Wilfrid Lawson's opinion, what we had got ; and to expect anything better was to hope to gather grapes from thorns and figs from thistles. He wished the Lords would demonstrate like the working - men. Lord Cairns might lead the procession waving an Orange flag, followed by Lord Brabourne with his coat turned inside out ; and Lord Salisbury himself might bring up the rear with a rope round his neck, while Professor Rogers might act as showman walk- ing a little in advance, and saying, " These be your Gods, 0 IsraeL"