Lord Derby, in the debate on the Commons' amendments, took
-occasion to give an odd little rap to the Commons. It seems that when the Managers of the two Houses meet in conference, the Lords sit capped and the Commons stand uncovered. The Commons think that undignified, and now, therefore, always send their paper of " Reasons " to the Upper House by a clerk. Lord Derby thinks this as ridiculous as if a baron refused an invi- tation because an earl would go down to dinner before him. That would be ridiculous, bat is that the precise illustration ? Is not a new earl rejecting the invitation because an old baron -claims precedence ? The Lower House claims to be greater of the two, though its rank in the State is more modern. Ceremonials are excellent things in their way, for they prevent at all events legislation in shirt-sleeves ; but if they are to last they should be made expressive of a fact, and not of a falsehood ; and the Lords would do well, as Lord Stanhope suggested, to admit the Commons' equality, lest the latter one day push the ceremonial still nearer to the truth.
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