vote's the thing." Acting on this principle, he has said but little either for Earl Grey's Government, by whom he was raised to the Bench, or for that of his successor in office; but his vote has always, on all important occasions, been at the service of both Administrations.

man.

The Right Rev. Prelate is tall and stout, with considerable breadth of shoulders. His face is full without being fat. His features are small and regular. He may be considered a good-looking His complexion is something between fair and dark, inclining rather to the former. His head is nearly bald: the little hair he has on it is on the sides, and at the back, and is of a light brown. He does not look so old as he is; he is about his sixtieth year, but you would not think he was much more than fifty.

The BISHOP of HEREFORD, Earl Grey's brother, was well known to the public during the Administration of the noble Earl; not, certainly, from any speeches he made in the House, or any thing else he had done to bring himself into notice, but because of his near relationship to one whose name during those four years filled so large a space in the nation's eye. The notoriety-I can hardly call it reputation-which the Right Rev. Prelate then enjoyed, from the circumstance I have men

tioned, was a good deal increased by his voting against his brother on several of the most important questions which the Government of the latter brought forward,—though that Government had elevated him to a much higher station than he formerly filled, and added considerably to his means of living. His political opinions are deeply tinged with Toryism; in religion he belongs to the moderate party in the Church. Of the opinions of the Evangelical party he may rather be said to disapprove, than to be hostile to their party itself in the abstract. His countenance gives every indication of a mild and conciliatory disposition, and his conduct confirms the impression which is thus created. He is understood to be full of the milk

of human kindness.

I can hardly form an estimate of his talents; for he has not afforded the means by any exhibition he has made in the House. He scarcely ever opens his mouth; and even the few occasions on which I have heard him deliver two or three sentences, the topics have been of very secondary importance. From the little I have heard of his speaking—if this may be called speaking-I should conclude he is not only an indifferent orator, but a man of very limited scope of mind.

He is rather above the middle height, and of a

handsome person, considering his advanced years; for sixty-six summers' suns have shone on his head, the hair of which is light. His face is thin, and his features are strongly marked. They have, blended with the mildness of which I have spoken, an expression of deep thoughtfulness. His complexion is sallow he is apparently in tolerable health; but his constitution, owing perhaps to his advanced years, seems as if it were incapable of enduring much exertion or fatigue.

I should add, that though his voice is hardly ever to be heard in the House, he is one of the most regular of his Right Rev. brethren in his attendance on his legislative duties.

CHAPTER XVII.

CONCLUDING REMARKS.

It is but justice to many noble Lords, whose names have not been mentioned in this work, to state, that in making the selection I have been guided solely by their comparative prominency in the public eye, and not by their usefulness as legislators. It consequently follows, that I have been obliged to devote a part of my space to noble Lords whose abilities are not of an order to entitle them to such notice, while I have been obliged to omit others whose legislative qualifications are such as to claim the respect of their fellow-countrymen.

In the Upper, as in the Lower House, there are members who, through some accidental circumstance, suddenly emerge from the depths of - obscurity into a prominent place in the public eye, and then as suddenly fall back again into oblivion. Lord Alvanley is the most remarkable recent instance of this. Before his memorable attack, at the beginning of last Session, on Mr.

O'Connell, the noble Lord's name was hardly ever heard of as a member of the House of Peers. O'Connell, as usual, returned the blow with redoubled force, applying to him, among other epithets, that of "a bloated buffoon." His Lordship challenged O'Connell to fight; the latter, for well-known reasons, refused; but his son Morgan offered to substitute himself in his place. Lord Alvanley accepted the offer the parties met and fought; and his Lordship, for the proverbial period of nine days, enjoyed as great a prominency in the public eye as must have satisfied the most craving appetite for distinction. Since then his name has scarcely ever been heard of as a member of the Legislature.

There are many Peers who scarcely ever open their mouths in the Upper House, who were distinguished for their loquacity when members of the Lower House. Earl Spencer is the most remarkable recent instance of this. When Chancellor of the Exchequer, he spoke more frequently perhaps, than any other member; but his elevation to the Peerage seems to have utterly sealed his lips as a senator. Indeed, he now scarcely ever attends to his legislative duties at all. I have not seen him once in his place in the House of Lords during the present Session; and he was not half-a-dozen times in it in the course of all last Session.