The Speaker of the House of Commons has been made
a Civil Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, and will be styled in future Sir Henry Brand, G.C.B. There is a precedent for this somewhat unusual bestowal of dignity in the case of Mr. Manners Sutton, who received in 1833 a similar distinction for the ability with which he presided over the transition from the unreformed to the reformed House of Commons. Sir Henry Brand certainly did very great service last Session by the patience, firmness, and dignity with which he met the Irish obstruction to the passing of the Coercion Acts ; and certainly the praise he then received did him no harm, for, far from being more disposed to tighten the reins of authority after that crisis, his patience was almost inexhaustible, even at the very end of the weary Session. The only anomaly is, that the Speaker should receive from the Crown the recognition which the House of Commons would be, if possible, the proper body to confer. Still, in our day, the Crown is advised virtually by the House of Commons, in being advised by its Leader, and her Majesty's graceful recognition of the Speaker's services may be said to be conferred indirectly by the great majority of both the parties which it contains.
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