LI. YOUNGER SONS OF DUKES.-This place is assigned to the younger sons of dukes upon the authority of a decree pronounced by the commis. sioners for executing the office of Earl Marshal, in the reign of Elizabeth. That sovereign referred the question for the consideration of the commissioners; and their decision was, that this class of nobles should precede viscounts. In accordance with the rules already referred to, the members of this class, however, take rank inter se in accordance with the relative precedence of their respective fathers.

LII. LORD GREAT CHAMBERLAIN, when of the rank of a viscount; vide No. xvIII.

LIII. LORD HIGH CONSTABLE, when of the rank of a viscount; vide No. XIX.

LIV. LORD STEWARD OF THE HOUSEHOLD, when of the rank of a viscount; vide No. xxII.

LV. LORD CHAMBERLAIN OF THE HOUSEHOld, when of the rank of a viscount; vide No. xxIII.

LVI. VISCOUNTS OF ENGLAND.-The same rule applies to these as to the higher ranks of the nobility. The class now under consideration are those whose titles were granted antecedently to the union with Scotland, and they are extinct save one, the viscounty of Hereford. The peer who holds that dignity is of course the premier viscount of the realm.

LVII. VISCOUNTS OF SCOTLAND.-As in the cases of earls, marquises, and dukes, the Scottish viscounts take precedence immediately after the English created before the union; Viscount Falkland being the first, and Viscount Strathallan the last. Of course, amongst each other they follow the usual rule, viz. date of patent.

I

· LVIII. VISCOUNTS OF GREAT BRITAIN.-These

were created between 1707, the period of the Scottish union, and 1801, that of the union with Ireland; they are therefore preceded, first, by the one English viscount, and 2ndly, by the Scottish viscounts. This rule is founded, like all others of a similar kind, upon the provisions of the treaty of union. The first of this class is Viscount Bolingbroke, the last is Viscount Hood.

LIX. VISCOUNTS OF IRELAND.-These are peers of Ireland created before the union, and by the act which effected that great change they became peers of Great Britain, with "precedence next after other peers of a like degree." The first of the number is Viscount Gormanston; the last, Viscount Avonmore. Amongst each other, they follow the general rule of taking rank according to the dates of patents.

LX. VISCOUNTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM CONstitute that portion of the peerage which has been created since 1801, the year in which England, Scotland, and Ireland became one united kingdom. In the scale of precedence, several Irish viscounts (created since the union) are intermingled with them, according to dates of patent, on principles already explained. The difference between an Irish viscount and one of the united kingdom is, that the latter has a seat in the upper house, but no vote at the election of Irish representative peers; the former has Do seat in the lords in right of his Irish viscounty, but of course he possesses a vote at the election of an Irish representative peer.

LXI. ELDEST SONS OF EARLS.-It is not under any distinct written authority that the eldest sons of earls hold this place, but by immemorial usage. Collectively, their position is indicated by the number LXI. while individually the rank of their respective parents regulates the precedence of the children

inter se.

as

LXII. YOUNGER SONS OF MARQUISES hold this rank by immemorial usage, in like manner the sons of dukes and earls possess theirs, and in the same way their fathers' precedence among marquises regulates theirs amongst the issue of marquises.

LXIII. THE BISHOP OF LONDON is here placed by the statute of Henry VIII. There is some ground for supposing that antecedently to the passing of that act he occupied a different position, but there cannot now be any doubt as to the place which ought to be given to this prelate. The see being amply endowed, the holder exercising great powers as a temporal judge, being likewise the head of a more important body of clergy than any in the kingdom, and presiding over the metropolitan diocese, are circumstances which were probably amongst the grounds on which this high rank has been assigned to him.

LXIV. BISHOP OF DURHAM.-The same statute (that of Henry VIII.) which determines the precedence of the Bishop of London fixes that also of the Bishop of Durham. The reason of this superiority we may presume to be, that the great temporal powers and the large revenues formerly belonging to

this see rendered it becoming, that the prelate who held it should enjoy a corresponding rank and dignity.

LXV. THE BISHop of WinchestER.-By the constitutions of the Order of the Garter, it was declared that the prelate of that order should always take precedence of every other bishop. The words are, that "the said prelate, for the honour and dignity of the prelacy of the said order, shall have preeminence, and be in all places above all other bishops under our authority, except archbishops." From the foundation of the order to the present time, with the exception of a few months in the year 1553, this office has always been held by the bishops of Winchester; therefore the holders of this see have uniformly enjoyed precedence over all suffragan bishops, excepting those of London and Durham, who in the 31st of Henry VIII. were placed above them by the act passed in that year regulating precedence.

LXVI. ENGLISH SUFFRAGAN BISHOPS.-So many generations have passed away since a bishop was a Secretary of State, that it may be scarcely worth while to call attention to the fact, that the 31st of Henry VIII. provides, if a prelate should be a principal Secretary of State, that he shall take precedence of all his brethren, unless some of them hold one of the ten offices already mentioned, which give a precedence over dukes. Bishops precede all temporal barons; and the general rule is that they shall take rank amongst each other according to priority of consecration, and not in right of

privileges attaching to each see. The exceptions are, as already stated, that the Bishops of London, Durham, and Winchester, enjoy rank superior to any other member of the episcopal body.

LXVII. BISHOP OF MEATH.-In ancient times Meath was an archiepiscopal see, and the Bishop of Meath continues to enjoy one of the honorary distinctions of an archbishop, though only one, viz. the title of Most reverend. Tuam and Cashel were till very lately archbishoprics, but none of their distinctions now in any respect appertain to them, and the bishops of those dioceses take rank amongst their brethren according to seniority of consecration, deriving no dignity from the fact of their predecessors having been archbishops: ancient usage, however, appears to make a difference in the case of Meath; for the holder of that see, no matter how recent his consecration, takes precedence of all suffragan bishops of Ireland.

LXVIII. IRISH SUFFRAGAN BISHOPS.-The act of union between Great Britain and Ireland provides, as in the case of the lords temporal, that the lords spiritual shall take precedence next after those of a like degree in England. The Irish suffragan bishops therefore take rank next to the English, but amongst each other their precedence is regulated according to seniority of consecration. To this, however, there is one exception; see No. LXVII.

LXIX. LORD GREAT CHAMBERLAIN, if of the rank of a baron; vide No. xvIII.

LXX. LORD HIGH CONSTABLE, if of the rank of a baron; vide No. XIX.