2 JANUARY 1892, Page 9

The honours granted on New Year's Day are few, but

they include three peerages, one given to Sir Frederick Roberts, the able Commander-in-Chief in India, one to Admiral Sir Arthur Acland Hood, and one to Sir W. Thomson, President of the Royal Society, the first man of science, we think, who ever received the distinction for work in that domain. He has, however, besides his scientific rank, a claim on all the maritime Governments of the world, earned by perfecting what we may call the " self-rectifying " compass.