The lords temporal conſiſt of all the peers of the realm (the biſhops not being in ſtrictneſs held to be ſuch, but merely lords of parliament[1]) by whatever title of nobility diſtinguiſhed; dukes, marquiſſes, earls, viſcounts, or barons; of which dignities we ſhall ſpeak more hereafter. Some of theſe ſit by deſcent, as do all antient peers; ſome by creation, as do all new-made ones; others, ſince the union with Scotland, by election, which is the caſe of the ſixteen peers, who repreſent the body of the Scots nobility. Their number is indefinite, and may be encreaſed at will by the power of the crown: and once, in the reign of queen Anne, there was an inſtance of creating no leſs than twelve together; in contemplation of which, in the reign of king George the firſt, a bill paſſed the houſe of lords, and was countenanced by the then miniſtry, for limiting the number of the peerage. This was thought by ſome to promiſe a great acquiſition to the conſtitution, by reſtraining the prerogative from gaining the aſcendant in that auguſt aſſembly, by pouring in at pleaſure an unlimited number of new created lords. But the bill was ill-reliſhed and miſcarried in the houſe of commons, whoſe leading members were then deſirous to keep the avenues to the other houſe as open and eaſy as poſſible.
The diſtinction of rank and honours is neceſſary in every well governed ſtate: in order to reward ſuch as are eminent for their ſervices to the public, in a manner the moſt deſirable to individuals, and yet without burthen to the community; exciting thereby an ambitious yet laudable order, and generous emulation in others. And emulation, or virtuous ambition, is a ſpring of action which, however dangerous or invidious in a mere republic or under a deſpotic ſway, will certainly be attended with good effects under a free monarchy; where, without deſtroying it’s exiſtence, it’s exceſſes may be continually reſtrained by that ſuperior power, from which all honour is derived. Such a ſpirit, when nationally diffuſed, gives life and vigour to the community; it ſets all the wheels of government in motion, which under a
- ↑ Staunford. P. C. 153.
