A hundred years ago
From the 'Spectator.' 17 April 1869—Earl Russell brought in his Bill for the creation of Life Peerages on Friday week. It is a very little one, and de- mands a great surrender of the prerogative. In return for a right to create twenty-eight life peers, at the rate of four a year, the Crown is required . to give up its prerogative of creating Life Peers at will, a prerogative it cannot use just now. but which might prove one day a useful reserve of power. It must, be remem- bered that when the Lords, in 1856, refused to admit Lord Wensleydale, they did not question the legality of his patent or call him Sir J. Parke. They only maintained their right to exclude him from right of speech and vote, a right they might under other circumstances resign. We have com- mented on the Bill elsewhere, and have only to say here that it was well recek ed. though Lord Derby still seemed hostile, and that the abler Peers. Lord Salisbury, for example, seemed aware of the futility of dictating to the Sovereign the classes from whom to choose.
Previous page
