to reward them in a manner the most gratifying to their private feelings, and the leaft expenfive to the country. It contributes likewise, if that is to be deemed an advantage, to cherish in the minds of Peers a high sense of honour. This is a principle, which, when it proves, as on investigation it most frequently would prove, but another name for pride, can expect no praise from chriftian morality, even if it fhould chance to produce incidental good. Nor has any man who acts on no better motives reason to feel his confcience at peace. The utmost which those who are most defirous of vindicating the principle can allege is this; that it is one which, however limited and fickle in its operation, however weak in resisting inordinate paffions, may occafionally bridle the vices of those whom negligence may have left unacquainted with the restraints of reason and religion, and whom youth and diffipation might otherwife hurry into greater and worse exceffes. It tends alfo to kindle generous emulation, to roufe and diffuse the fpirit of patriotic exertions. At the fame time it must be allowed, that the good effects of this emulation are in fome measure counter-balan

ced by the

envy and difcontent awakened in the breasts of those who conceive themfelves neglected; and by the occafional elevation of men, whofe promotion feems altogether indifferent, if not injurious, to the public welfare. The former however of thefe confequences might be obviated to a confiderable degree, and the latter entirely prevented, by proper attention on the part of those who select the perfons to be raised to the dignity of Peers.

Such are the conftitutional usages of the Houfe of Lords; and they are unquestionably great. An accurate acquaintance with them is an object of the first concern to each individual Peer, and will materially illustrate the general line of his duty.

Yet in common with every arrangement in human fociety, the establishment of the order of Peers has its peculiar inconveniences. It inclines the mind of each member of the order to adopt and cherish various opinions founded on prejudice; and fubjects him to `many appropriate and powerful temptations. These prepoffeffions and allurements have a natural tendency

tendency to cloud his understanding, and warp his decifions. They difpofe him to take for granted the propriety of erroneous and doubtful principles, of action; to be mifled in the application of reasonable principles; and to be biaffed by the impulfe of ambition, and intereft. They prove equally injurious in their confequences, when permitted to prevail, to his own true happiness and to that of the public.

The paffion which ftrikes the deepest root in the breast of the Nobleman is pride. Raised above his fellow-citizens, he is prone to look down upon them with contempt; and to treat them with repulfive formality, with lofty indifference, or with arrogant condefcenfion. The fentiment of pride is cherished in the hereditary Peer by his recollection of the recorded nobility of his ancestors; in the newly-created Lord, by a fondness for his recent dignity, and an opinion of his perfonal merit and importance. Hence they are alike tempted to regard themselves, not as public officers invefted by their equals, and folely for the general good, with peculiar honours and authority; not as magistrates refponfible in their collective K 3 capa

capacity to their country, and poffeffing functions which the Nation at large retains a right to abridge or annihilate, if experience should ever prove their continuance ufelefs or noxious; but as holding their legal rights by an indefeasible prescription, never to be queftioned under any poffible circumstances whatever because it has once been established. Hence too they are liable to be actuated by a fecret defire of enlarging the prerogatives of the Peerage, and to look with a jealous eye on the powers enjoyed by the ranks of fociety inferior to themselves; efpecially on the privi leges and jurisdiction of the popular Reprefentatives, which they perceive to be more nearly on a level with their own, and feel a continually operative restraint. From the concur rence of all these motives they are apt to entertain an unconquerable averfion to measures which they deem the refult of vulgar prejudice; and frequently permit their love of order (a) to degenerate into an indifcriminate

oppofition

(a) This principle, laudable in itself, may be expected frequently to act with too ftrong a bias on those members of the House of Peers in particular, who owe their dignity

to

opposition to reform and innovation. These circumstances, joined to their attachment to the Crown as the fountain of honour, and their propensity to the splendour and pomp of a Court in which they are habituated to move, will naturally incline them to give every degree of preponderance to the monarchical branch of the Conftitution compatible with their own legislative weight. As members of the Legislature, they are under strong tempta tions to be influenced in their public conduct by views of perfonal honour and emolument; and are especially expofed to them after having once tafted the pleasure of being elevated from a lower to a higher degree in the scale of pre-eminence. For it is not unknown to those who have opportunities of inspecting the proceedings of perfons in public life, that he who is advanced to any rank of nobility is usually

to eminence in the Law, or to their stations in the Establifhed Church. For the natural effect of their profeffions is, to difpofe them in favour of every thing which has the fanction of precedent and the authority of ancient custom. And as their advancement to the Upper House feldom takes place until the earneftness and alaerity of youth have fabfided; their time of life in general ftrengthens their difinclination even to moderate and reasonable changes.