Lord Derby on Friday week made a curious speech at
the " Speech Day" festival at Merchant Taylors'. He had to-return thanks for the Lords, and chose to defend his House from the imputation of want of influence on politics. The House, he said, had to consider every detail of legislation, and details were as important as principles ; it had given five Premiers to the country since 1832, against four, given by the Commons — to make up four he has to count Lord Palmerston and Lord John Russell as Commoners—and it had its fair share in "the administrative blessings of Govern- tnent,"—by which, we presume, he meant—in bestowing the admi- nistrative blessings of Government. Considering that the Peers -are absolute masters of the Government, and can make it abandon a Bill twice passed by both Houses, and this by private remon- strance, without accepting any responsibility, this is a little cool.
Blame the Lords for their "inconsiderable influence !" Why, the fifty or sixty great proprietors who rule that House have at pre- sent more influence than the Government, the Opposition, the electors, and the journals, all put together ! They have only to refuse to vote, and a Cabinet with a majerity of fifty apologises itself out of the way.
