The Queen's Birthday List of Honours, published in the papers
on May 25th, is a long one, but of no unusual interest. There are no peerages or promotions in the peerage, greatly to the delight of those who already enjoy the dignity, and the rewards for the Chitral Expedition are reserved for a special Gazette. Five baronetcies are granted, to Mr. J. T. Brunner, M.P.; Mr. W. Dunn, M.P.; Mr. D. Dale, of Darlington; Mr. R. D. Holt, of Liverpool ; and Mr. J. Watson, of Earnock, Lanarkshire,—all men who doubtless deserve them, but who have performed no national services. The Right Hon. James Stansfeld also accepts a. G.C.B., rather, we should fancy, to the surprise of his friends, though he amply deserves that decoration, or any other. An endless list of decorations to members of the Services follows, and there are twelve new knights, among whom the most worthy is Mr. W. H. Russell, the war correspondent, who did so much to rescue the British Army in the Crimea. He ought to have been decorated thirty-nine years ago, the day after the conclusion of peace. The right. of actors to be socially recognised is affirmed by.the grant of a knighthood to Mr. H. Irving ; Mr. W. Besant, the novelist, is made Sir Walter Besant ; and Mr. Lewis Morris is also knighted, an excellent selection if it is made because it has been decided that he shall not have the Laureateship. As we have said elsewhere, we regret the new system of deco- rating literary men; but if it is to be adopted, Premiers will have to take more care, and pick out the real chiefs of the corporation.
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