"Toland (`Life of Milton', p. 2) has justly observed that ``those distinctions which the brave and the wise have justly obtained from their country, descend indifferently to cowards, traitors, or fools, and spoil the better souls from endeavouring to equal or exceed the merits of their ancestors.'' The Peerage furnishes abundant illustrations of the truth of this remark; and so long as human nature remains what it now is, hereditary honours must be prolific with mischief."

"Irish Peerages, says The Spectator, have proved a most pernicious instrument in the hands of the packers of the House of Lords. An Irish Peerage is a step to the British; a man is created an Irish Peer for servility, oppression, and bigotry in his own country; and then he is ready for transplanting to this, whenever his services shall be wanted. The misgovernment of Ireland has been a grand means of ruining England. When a man is made a Peer by corruption in Ireland, by corruption he is glad to take the next step in England."

Campbell, Marquis of Breadalbane -- "Sir John Campbell of Glenorchy being the creditor of George, sixth Earl of Caithness, obtained a disposition from that nobleman of his whole estate and earldom, with the hereditary jurisdictions and titles; and upon the demise of his Lordship, he was created by patent (1677) Earl of Caithness; but in a few years afterwards, that dignity being allowed by Parliament to be vested in George Sinclair of Keif, Sir John Campbell obtained a new patent (1681), creating him Earl of Breadalbane and Holland. This Peerage, therefore, has obviously been obtained in the way of trade -- it is solely the purchase of money or money's worth. Other Peerages have been conferred for political profligacy or subserviency to the minister of the day; but we are not at present aware of any other case in which a Peerage has been notoriously a matter of bargain and sale, like any other commodity or description of transferable property."

Earl of Clanwilliam -- "This Tory Peer was a hanger-on of the late Lord Castlereagh of execrable memory, and was made a British Peer by the especial favor of George IV in order that he might vote against the Catholic question. Having thus obtained his Peerage, the noble Lord, according to true lordly morality, voted in favor of the Emancipation Bill, in order to please the Duke of Wellington, and serve himself."

Lord Albert, brother of Marquis of Conyngham -- "This young gentleman, who is married to a sister of Lord Forrester, is what is denominated a blood. He is well known in the saloons of the theatres, and in many other places which we may as well not mention."

Earl of Clancarty -- "His claims to public notice rest altogether upon political subserviency, diplomatic finesse, and an uniform opposition to everything tending to improve the institutions of the country."

The Duke of Cumberland -- "It was the misfortune of his Royal Highness to reside for many years of his life in foreign countries, where the doctrines of despotism were sedulously inculcated, and where his mind was familiarised with opinions and principles wholly at variance with the British Constitution. He is one of those statesmen who maintain that the people have nothing to do with the laws but to obey them -- that the few are born to rule, and the many to submit without question or complaint. He is never absent from his place in Parliament when the bigotted and intolerant faction to which he belongs meditate any agression on liberty either at home or abroad; and he has evinced similar zeal and activity in availing himself of his proximity to the throne, and of the confidential intercourse which that position gives him, to influence the state-policy in favor of everything anti-popular and illiberal."

Earl Delawarr -- "Wherever the mouldering carcass of exploded legitimacy is there, there is he; labouring most zealously, though feebly, to foster the corruptions in the State, and perpetuate the abuses on which the oligarchy has so long battened."

Earl De Grey -- "He is ever to be found in the anti-popular ranks, impeding and thwarting the progress of liberal and wholesome legislation."

Nicholas Vansittart, Baron Bexley -- The poem below was written in response to this remark from Lord Bexley's Letter to the Freeholders of Kent: "We are told that the bigots are growing old and fast wearing out. If it be so, why not let us die in peace?"

Stop, Intellect, in mercy stop,

Ye curst Improvements cease:

And let poor Nick Vansittart drop

Into his grave in peace.

Hide, Knowledge, hide thy rising sun --

Young Freedom, veil thy head;

Let nothing good be thought or done

Till Nick Vansittart's dead.

Take pity on a dotard's fears,

Who much light doth detest;

And let his last few drivelling years

Be dark as were the rest.

Ye Liberals, whate'er your plan,

Be all reforms suspended;

In compliment to dear old Van,

Let nothing bad be mended.

Ye Papists, whom oppression wrings,

Your cry politely cease,

And fret your hearts to fiddle-strings,

That Van may "die in peace".