The King has made an interesting change in the constitu-
tion of the Order of the Garter. A new statute confers on the Queen " the title and dignity of Lady of that most noble Order," and authorises her "to wear the insignia thereof." Thus Queen Alexandra will be the first woman not a Sovereign to receive the Order. We wish the King and his Ministers— for the Garters are, as a rule, given on Ministerial advice, and only to members of the party in office—would make another change in practice, though none is needed in the statutes, and occasionally confer the Garter on commoners. Lord Palmerston possessed it, though a Member of the House of Commons, if not a commoner, and so did Sir Robert Wal- pole. It was offered to Sir Robert Peel, but he refused it. The custom of conferring the Garter only on Peers is a foolish one. If Peers quci Peers were better born than other people there might be something in the practice, but there is, of course, no suggestion of lineage, but merely of title, in the present system.
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