()PECS OF THE
THE DENMAN PEERAGE. OF all pensioners, lawyers are the most gieely. Among sin ne- ,* curists, they and their progeny are leviathans: witness the name:. of ELLEIVHOROUGH, YORKE, SCOTT, KENYON, MANNERS, and KNOX. To these must now be added the name of DENMAN; for the Chief Justice has been made a Peer of the realm, with a family, and without a fortune. The pretence male use of for this new creation is curious: it is said that Lord BROUGHAM requires assistance in getting through the Scotch appeals, ar,d that he will receive it from Lord DENMAN. But no one pretends that the Chief Justice is learned in Scotch law. In this respect, lie an Lord VVYNFORD are nearly on a par; though we admit Lord DENMAN'S superiority in the other points which are requisite to form a good judge—temper, humanity, and quick moral feeling.
Had the creation been for life only—without " remainder "—it would not have been so objectionable. It is not of the elevation of the present Lord that we complain, for be will probably be able to earn his salary. But, in one shape or another, the country will be called on to maintain the flimily—that is if the Hereditary Peerage last. Pauper Peers are incumbrances on the people to the third and fourth generation. They become almost inevitably time-serving and mean in their politics, and the ready instruments of bringing their order into contempt.
In the present temper of the nation, a man runs no small hazard who accepts a Peerage without wealth. Lord DENMAN may rely upon this, that his disposal of the patronage in his gift will be most rigidly watched. He will now be induced to grasp at emolument, in the shape of pensions and places, for himself and family, which, as plain Sir THOMAS, he could safely reject and despise. He has now got the dignity of his order to support; and if it be true, as is generally supposed, that he is far from being a wealthy man, that dignity can only be maintained at the public cost. But will the nation consent to pay the expense of this miserable gewgaw of a Peerage for Lord DENMAN s heirs male? will it lie down quietly, and see pensions for younger chil- dren voted as heretofore?
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