change which is going on in the composition of the Upper House, the following statement appeared in 1875: "Of 217 peerages created since the 1st of January, 1830, only 133 yet remain upon the rolls. The number of peers in 1830 was 393; the continual additions by successive Prime Ministers have raised it to 480. Of the peerages created in the Plantagenet reigns only 14 survive; of the Tudor reigns, 11; of the Stuart reigns, 46; of George I. and II., 26; of George III., 131; of George IV., 43; of William IV., 41; and of Queen Victoria, 89. When it is borne in mind that more than 400 peerages were created in the reign of George III., and that the honour can be extinguished only by death, and not by resignation, the fact that so few as 130 now remain is a remarkable one."

Peerage in Abeyance. A correspondent of the Times wrote in 1879: "The recent re-appearance of the ancient barony of Braye on the roll of peers affords a curious illustration of the vitality of a barony by writ of summons. Although the title dates from 1529, the Hon. Alfred Thomas Townshend Wyatt-Edgell, who has recently inherited it, is only the third Lord Braye. The title has, however, been twice held in the female line-namely, by the grandmother and mother of the present peer, the latter of whom is recently deceased. The title fell into abeyance in 1557, and so remained for a period of nearly 300 years. The title having only been enjoyed in the male line for 28 years, and in the female line for 22 years, we have the curious fact that in the 350 years which have elapsed since its creation the title has only appeared upon the roll for 50 years."

Hereditary Representatives.-It was remarked in Notes and Queries that nearly 230 years had passed since the election of the Long Parliament, and yet many of the names reappeared in the Reformed Parliament of Queen Victoria, as representatives of towns in the same districts, and, in some cases, of precisely the same places. Thus, an Ashton (Assheton) then, as now, represented Clithero; a Corbett, Shropshire; a Knightley, Northampton; a Lloyd, Cardigan; a Montagu, Huntingdonshire; a Morgan, Brecknockshire; a Newport, Shropshire; a Noel, Rutlandshire; a Parker, Suffolk; a Russell, Tavistock; and a Whitmore, Bridgenorth. The same periodical gave a list of fifty members in 1869 who were, so far as could be ascertained, the direct lineal descendants of persons who sat in the Long Parliament in 1640.

Long Retention of Seats in Parliament. The following facts were pointed out by a writer to the Times :-The late Colonel H. C. Lowther sat in Parliament from 1812 to 1867. He must have known Colonel James Lowther, who sat from 1775 to 1818. These two must, therefore, have had between them a parliamentary experience of 92 years, uninterrupted by a break. Colonel H. C. Lowther must also have known the first Earl of Lonsdale, whose parliamentary career commenced in 1757. The Earl must have known Sir James Lowther, of Whitehaven, to whose wealth he succeeded, and whose parliamentary experiences extended from 1692 to 1754. Thus the parliamentary experiences of three lives went almost uninterruptedly back from 1867 to 1692.

Changes in the Composition of the House of Commons.— A remarkable example of the gradual changes in the representation produced, during one term of Parliament, by death or removal, was afforded by the House of Commons which was elected in February, 1874. In five years from that time, no less than 128 new members-nearly onefifth of the entire body-had taken their seats in response to the Speaker's writs for new elections to fill up vacancies. Another year elapsed before the dissolution of this Parliament, when the total number of such changes amounted to over 140.

Proportion of New Members in Recent Parliaments.— The general election of April, 1880, resulted in the return to the House of Commons of an unusual proportion of new members. The total number was 236, of whom 201 had never before sat in Parliament. So large an amount of change had not taken place since the period of the Reform Act of 1832. Mr. Dod gives the following figures as showing the return of new members to each Parliament since the passing of that Act: In December, 1832, at the general election, 280 persons; in January, 1835, at the general election, 184 persons; in August, 1837, at the general election, 121 persons; in July, 1841, at the general election, 183 persons; in July, 1847, at the general election, 213 persons; in July, 1852, at the general election, 201 persons; in April, 1859, at the general election, 131 persons; in August, 1865, at the general election, 196 persons; in December, 1868, at the general election, 227 persons; in February, 1874, at the general election, 221 persons; and in April, 1880, at the general election, 236 persons.

PART II.

PERSONAL ANECDOTES.

SIR THOMAS MORE.

(1480-1535.)

The King Thwarted by a "Beardless Boy."-More was returned to the House of Commons in 1504, and he is recorded as the first member of that assembly who gained celebrity by public speaking, and who, as a successful leader of opposition, incurred the enmity of the Court. Henry VII. was entitled (says Lord Campbell) according to the strictest feudal law to a grant on the occasion of the marriage of his daughter Margaret with James IV. of Scotland; but he thought it a favourable opportunity for gratifying his avarice, and he required a much greater sum than he intended to bestow on the Scottish queen. When the consent of the Lower House was demanded, Sir Thomas, making a grave speech, pronounced such urgent arguments why these exactions were not to be granted, that thereupon all the King's demands were crossed, and his request denied; so that Mr. Tyler, one of the King's Privy Chamber, went presently from the House and told his Majesty that a beardless boy had disappointed him of his expectations. More, however, was twenty-four years of age when he made this effective speech.

Wolsey's Attempt to Overawe the Commons.-Roper has the following in his "Life of More:" At Parliament (1523) Cardinal Wolsey found himself much aggrieved with the burgesses thereof, for that nothing was so soon done or spoken therein, but that it was immediately blown abroad in every alehouse. It fortuned at that Parliament a very great subsidy to be demanded, which the Cardinal fearing would not pass the Commons' House, he determined, for the furtherance thereof, to be there present himself. Before his coming, after long debating there, whether it was better but with a few of his lords, as the most opinion of the House was, or with his whole train royally to receive him,-" Masters," quoth Sir Thomas More (the Speaker), "forasmuch as my lord Cardinal lately, ye wot well, laid to our charge the lightness of our tongues for things uttered out of this House, it shall not in my mind be amiss to receive him with all his pomp, with his maces, his pillars, his poll-axes, his hat, and great seal too; to the intent that if he find the like fault with us hereafter, we may be the bolder from ourselves to lay the blame on those whom his

grace bringeth here with him." Whereunto the House wholly agreeing, he was received accordingly. After he had, by a solemn oration, by many reasons proved how necessary it was the demand then moved to be granted, and further showed that less would not serve to maintain the prince's purpose, he, seeing the company sitting still silent, and thereunto nothing answering, and, contrary to his expectation, showing in themselves to his request no towardness of inclination, said to them, "Masters, you have many wise and learned men amongst you, and sith I am from the King's own person (Henry VIII.) sent hitherto unto you, to the preservation of yourselves and of all the realm, I think it meet you give me some reasonable answer." Whereat every man holding his peace, then began Wolsey to speak to one Master Marney, afterwards Lord Marney. "How say you," quoth he, "Master Marney ?" who making him no answer neither, he severally asked the same question of divers others, accounted the wisest of the company; to whom, when none of them all would give so much as one word-being agreed before, as the custom was, to give answer by their Speaker "Masters," quoth the Cardinal, "unless it be the manner of your House, as of likelihood it is, by the mouth of your Speaker, whom you have chosen for trusty and wise (as indeed he is), in such cases to utter your minds, here is, without doubt, a marvellously obstinate silence." And thereupon he required answer of Mr. Speaker; who first reverently, on his knees, excused the silence of the House, abashed at the presence of so noble a personage, able to amaze the wisest and best learned in a realm, and then, by many probable arguments, proved that for them to make answer was neither expedient nor agreeable with the ancient liberty of the House; in conclusion for himself showed that though they had all with their voices trusted him, yet except every one of them could put into his own head their several wits, he alone in so weighty a matter was unmeet to make his grace answer. Whereupon the Cardinal, displeased with Sir Thomas More, that had not in this Parliament in all things satisfied his desire, suddenly arose and departed.

Of One Mind.-When the short session of Parliament (just referred to) was closed, Wolsey, in his gallery of Whitehall, said to More, "I wish to God you had been at Rome, Mr. More, when I made you Speaker." "Your grace not offended, so would I too, my lord," replied Sir Thomas, "for then should I have seen the place I long have desired to visit." More turned the conversation by saying that he liked this gallery better than the Cardinal's at Hampton Court. But the Cardinal secretly brooded over his revenge.-Mackintosh's "Life of More."

LORD BACON.

(1561-1626.)

Depopulation.-Bacon was returned to the Parliament that met in 1597, when he introduced two bills against " enclosures and the depopula tion of towns." In his speech introducing his bills he said, "I should be sorry to see within this kingdom that piece of Ovid's verse prove trueJam seges ubi Troja fuit: In England nought but green fields, a shepherd, and a dog."-Parliamentary History.