The Peers cannot forget the wrongs of the Lord-Lieutenants. Those
very dignified and entirely useless officials are not, it appears -from a speech made on Tuesday by Lord Vivian, to be " snubbed " by Secretaries of State or "underlings "like the Inspector-General -of Militia with impunity. Lord Vivian actually complained in -so many words that while he had fixed the middle of June for call- ing out the Militia, the Secretary of State had fixed the 1st of May. He stated this, incredible as it may appear, as a serious grievance. The Duke of Richmond, who as a " leader " ought 'to know better, quite coincided in that view, and even Lord Salis- bury described the word " snubbing " as "strong and just -vernacular." The House actually resented a regular order given by the Secretary of State for War as an impertinence ! Earl *Grey was the only Peer who ventured to suggest that if a Lord- Lieutenant would fight Government his commission ought to be withdrawn, and no Peer so much as hinted that if Lord-Lieu- tenants were abolished and their few duties confided to the county members the counties would be none the worse. Lord-Lieutenants are endurable while they are not in the way of the machine, but if they will get in the way, it has only to roll on.
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