ANECDOTES OF THE PEERAGE. Ages of the Peers.-1848. THE most aged Peers (all born between the years 1760, and 1770) are the following: AGED. 86. Marquess of Huntly, born 28th June, 1761. 85. 84. Lord Berners, born 1st October, 1762. Earl of Macclesfield, born, 9th June, 1763. 83. Lord Plunket, born in July, 1764. 82. Lord Dynevor, born 8th October, 1765. Earl of Mayo, born 18th January, 1766, 82. 81. 81. 80. Lord Stanley, of Alderley, born 26th November, 1766. Viscount Strathallan, born 24th March, 1767. 80. 80. 80. 80. 80. Lord Dinorben, born 10th November, 1767. Earl of Portsmouth, born 18th December, 1767. 79. Lord Colvill, born 15th March, 1768. 79. Earl of Leitrim, born 9th May, 1768. 79. Marquess of Anglesey, born 17th May, 1768. 79. Lord Sinclair, born 30th July, 1768. 79. Earl of Shaftesbury, born 21st December, 1768. Marquess of Bristol, born 2nd October, 1769. The next in seniority are Viscount Melville, Lord Methuen, Lord de Vesci, Lord Skelmersdale, Lord Stafford, Lord Bagot, Lord Lyndhurst, the Earl of Albemarle, the Earl of Strafford, the Earl of Guilford, the Earl of Oxford, the Earl of Meath, the Marquess of Ailesbury, the Earl Amherst, Lord Beresford, Lord Dunsaney, the Earl of Carlisle, the Earl Digby, the Earl of Jersey, Lord Cloncurry, Lord Dacre, Lord Willoughby de Broke, and Lord Ashburton, all of whom were born between the years 1770 and 1775. The youngest Peers (all of whom are minors) are, AGED. 6. Earl of Dunmore, born 24th March, 1841. 9. Earl of Coventry, born 9th May, 1838. 11. Viscount Powerscourt, born 14th October, 1836. AGED. 12. 14. 16. 16. Earl of Belmore, born 9th April, 1835. 16. 17. 19. 19. 20. Origin of our Most Distinguished Famílies, The illustrious House of Norfolk derives in the male line, from William Howard, "a learned and reverend judge," of the reign of Edward I.; and with him the authentic pedigree commences. Dugdale sought in vain, amid the mists of remoter ages, for a clue to the family's earlier origin. The alliance of the judge's descendant, Sir Robert Howard, Knight, with Margaret, elder daughter of Thomas de Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk—was the source whence flowed to after generations, All the blood of all the Howards. Margaret de Mowbray, was great granddaughter and heiress of Thomas Plantaganet, surnamed de Brotherton, eldest son of King Edward I., by Margaret, his second wife, daughter of Philip the Hardy of France. This great alliance may be regarded as the foundation stone on which was erected the subsequent grandeur of the House of Norfolk; but the brilliant halo which encircles the coronet of the Howards, owes its splendour to the heroic achievements of the successive chiefs, on whom its honours devolved. John Howard, Duke of Norfolk, fell at Bosworth, manfully adhering to Richard III.; his son, the Earl of Surrey, was the hero of Flodden, and the latter's grandson is ever memorable as the first poet of his age. "The gentle Surrey loved his lyre. And his the Bard's immortal name." In more recent times the hereditary gallantry of the race continued to shine conspicuously forth; and to a Howard was reserved the honour of overthrowing the mighty power of Spain, and crushing the "invincible" Armada. In point of mere antiquity, there are several nobles, who far exceed the Howards; but what other family pervades all our national annals with such frequent mention, and often involved in circumstances of such intense interest? As heroes, poets, politicians, courtiers, patrons of literature, state victims to tyranny, and feudal Chiefs, they have been constantly before us for four centuries. In the drama of life," says an eloquent writer, "they have exhibited every variety of character, good and bad; and the tale of their vices, as well as of their virtues, is full of instruction and anxious sympathy or indignant censure. No story of romance, or tragic drama, can exhibit more incidents to enhance attention or move the heart than would a comprehensive account of this House, written with eloquence and pathos." The noble family of CAVENDISH, of which, in the last century, two branches attained Dukedoms, laid the foundations of its greatness, on the share of abbey lands, obtained at the dissolution of the monasteries, by Sir William Cavendish, who had been gentleman-usher to Cardinal Wolsey, and died in 1557; but its vast wealth may be ascribed to the abilities and the good fortune of Elizabeth, Lady Cavendish, Sir William's widow, who remarried George, Earl of Shrewsbury, and died in 1607, aged eighty-seven. Of this lady, the celebrated "Bess of Hardwick," the notable dabbler in architecture, intrigue, and money-craft, Bishop Kennet, thus speaks: "The Lady Cavendish continued in her widowhood some time, rejecting many offers, and then accepted of Sir William St. Loe, of Tormarton in Gloucestershire, Captain of the Guard to Queen Elizabeth, and Grand Butler of England, and possessor of divers fair lordships in Gloucestershire, which, in articles of marriage, she took care should be settled on her, and her own heirs, in default of issue by him; and accordingly, having no child by him, she lived to enjoy his whole estate, excluding his former daughters and his brothers. "In this third widowhood, she had not survived her charms of wit and beauty, by which she captivated the then greatest subject of the realm, George Earl of Shrewsbury, whom she brought to terms of the greatest honour and advantage to herself and children; for he not only yielded to a considerable jointure, but to an union of families, by taking Mary, her youngest daughter, to wife of Gilbert his son, and afterwards his heir; and giving the Lady Grace, his youngest daughter, to Henry her eldest son. On November 18, 1590, she was a fourth time left, and to death continued a widow. A change of conditions, that perhaps never fell to any one woman, to be four times a creditable and happy wife; to rise by every husband into greater wealth and higher honours; to have an unanimous issue by one husband only; to have all those children live, and all, by her advice, be honourably and creditably disposed of in her lifetime; and, after all, to live seventeen years a widow, in absolute power and plenty. "She built three of the most elegant seats that were ever raised by one hand within the same county, beyond example-Chatsworth, Hardwick, and Oldcotes, all transmitted entire to the first Duke of Devonshire. At Hardwick, she left the ancient seat of her family standing, and at a small distance, still adjoining to her new fabric, as if she had a mind to preserve her cradle, and set it by her bed of state. Which old house has one room in it, of such exact proportion, and such convenient lights, that it has been thought fit for a pattern of measure and contrivance of a room in the late Duke of Marlborough's noble house at Blenheim. It must not be forgotten, that this Lady had the honour to be Keeper of Mary Queen of Scots, committed prisoner to George Earl of Shrewsbury, for seventeen years. Her chamber, and rooms of state, with her arms and other ensigns, are still remaining at Hardwick; her bed was taken away for plunder in the civil wars. At Chatsworth, the new lodgings, that answer the old, are called the Queen of Scots' apartment, and an island plat at the top of a square tower, built in a large pool, is still called the Queen of Scots' garden; and some of her own royal work is still preserved among the treasures of this family: a carpet embroidered with her needle, and particularly a suit of hangings, now remaining in a chamber at Hardwick, wherein, all the virtues are represented in symbolical figures and allusive mottoes; an ornament, and a lecture. The Earl's own epitaph betrays that he was suspected of familiarity with his royal prisoner, quod licet a malevolis propter suspectam cum captiva Regina familiaritatem sæpius male audivit, which is not to be imagined true however, the rumour of it was, no doubt, an exercise of temper and virtue to the Countess, who carried herself to the Queen, and the Earl her husband, with all becoming respect and duty. "Yet it was reported of her, that coming to Court, and Queen Elizabeth demanding how the Queen of Scots did, she said, 'Madam, she cannot do ill, while she is with my husband, and I begin to grow jealous, they are so great together.' Whereupon the Queen was ordered into the custody of Sir Amias Paulet, and others. It is probable it was this that induced Camden to tax her with ill conduct, in the character he gives of the Earl of Shrewsbury. "She endowed a noble hospital at Derby, for the subsistence of twelve poor people, wh› have each of them an allowance of near £10. per annum; and departing this life in the eighty-seventh year of her age, on Februrary 13, 1607, was buried in the south aisle of All-Hallows church in Derby, under a stately monument, which she took care to erect in her own life-time. Her statue, in full proportion, curiously cut in marble, lies at length, and above it is a Latin inscription, setting forth her marriages and issue." JOHN, Seventh EARL of MARR, being a widower, fell desperately in love with Lady Stuart, daughter of the Duke of Lennox, and the King's cousin, but who, seeing that his lordship was twice her age, and had already a son and heir, at first positively refused to take him. Though his lordship had arrived at those years when love is supposed to have no very powerful sway over the human heart, he pined like a lad of seventeen for this scornful beauty, and it was even supposed that his disappointed passion might have a fatal effect. The King, however, soon learnt how matters stood, and, as we are informed by Lady Mary's descendant, the late Earl of Buchan came to him, and said in his hearty way, "I say, Jock, ye sanna die for ony lass in a' the land." To make good his word, he set about the task of conciliating Lady Mary, which he ultimately effected, by a promise to ennoble her eldest son. Hence originated the peerage of Buchan. JAMES DALRYMPLE, LORD STAIR, married Margaret, eldest daughter of Ross of Ballneil. Of this Margaret, who was a most extraordinary woman, many singular tales are told, amongst others the following is to be found in Law's Memorial. "She lived to a great age, and at her death, desired that she might not be put under ground, but that her coffin should stand upright on one end of it, promising that while she remained in that situation the Dalrymples should continue to flourish. Certain it is, her coffin stands upright in the aisle of the church of Kirkleston, the burial place of the family; and it is probable that this odd position of her corpse, and the sudden rise of so many of the house of Dalrymple, without any very visible reason, might have given occasion to the vulgar conjecture that she was a witch." From this celebrated lady, Sir Walter Scott is said to have drawn Lady Ashton, in the Bride of Lammermoor, a beautiful and o'er true a tale. Numerous indeed are the Peerages that have emanated from the Law; the most conspicuous are those of Manchester, Camden, Shaftesbury, Cowper, Macclesfield, North, Hardwicke, Bathurst, Mansfield, Harrowby, Eldon, Somers, Grantley, Kenyon, Thurlow, Erskine, Manners, Gifford, Lyndhurst, Tenterden, Plunket, Wynford, Brougham, Denman, Abinger, Cottenham, Langdale, and Campbell. Next month we will continue this analysis of the origin of our Peerage Honours. The Proud Duke of Somerset. Charles, sixth Duke of Somerset, who added to his own princely patrimony, the vast estates of the Percys by his marriage with the heiress of Jocelyn, Duke of Northumberland, is well known in contemporary history as the proud Duke of Somerset. His Grace was of a middle stature, of an elegant form, and dark complexion; he loved music and poetry; had judgment; but an hesitation in speech made him appear wanting in expression. He was noble in sentiment, magnificent in living, a generous enemy, and a firm friend. His foible was an unbounded pride, which carried him to the most absurd lengths. The first peer of the realm being a Roman Catholic, he took precedence on all great occasions. He had attended the funerals of Charles II., Queen Mary, and William III., and at the coronation of James II., William and Mary, Anne, George I., and George II. He seemed little less in his conduct than if vested with regal honours. His servants obeyed by signs. The country roads were cleared that he might pass without obstruction or observation. He had two wives; the first was Elizabeth, the sole daughter and heiress of Jocelyn, eleventh Earl of Northumberland, the virgin widow of Henry Cavendish, Earl of Ogle, and the relict of Thomas Thynne, Esq., who was shot in his coach by Count Coningsmark, in hopes of obtaining the heiress of the Percys. His second Duchess was Charlotte, daughter of Daniel, Earl of Winchelsea and Nottingham. He made a vast distinction between a Percy and a Finch. The Duchess once familiarly tapped him on the shoulder with her fan; he turned round, and with an indignant, sour countenance, said, "My first Duchess was a Percy, and she never took such a liberty." His children obeyed his mandates with profound respect; the two youngest daughters had used to stand alternately whilst he slept of an afternoon, Lady Charlotte, being tired, sat down; the Duke awaked, and, being displeased, declared he would make her remember her want of decorum. By his will, he left her £20,000 less than her sister. The pleasant Sir James Delaval laid a wager of £1,000 that he would make the Duke give him precedency; but that was judged impossible, for his Grace was all eyes and ears upon such an occasion. Delaval, however, having one day obtained information of the precise time when the Duke was to pass a narrow part of the road on his way to town, stationed himself there in a coach emblazoned for the day with the arms, and surrounded by many servants in livery, of the head of the house of Howard, who called out when Somerset appeared, “The Duke of Norfolk." The former, fearful of committing a breach of etiquette, hurried his postilion under a hedge, where he was no sooner safely fixed, than Delaval passed, who, leaning out of the carriage, bowed with a familiar air, and wished his Grace a good morning. He indignantly exclaimed, Is it you, Sir James? I thought it had been the Duke of Norfolk." The wager, thus fairly won, was paid, and the town made merry with the stratagem to gain it. His Grace died in 1748, at the advanced age of 87, having filled high offices in the courts of Charles II., William III., and Queen Anne. His son and successor, Algernon, seventh Duke of Somerset, left an only daughter Elizabeth, the greatest heiress of her time, who married Sir Hugh Smithson, Bart., of Stanwick, county of York, and was mother of Hugh, Duke of Northumberland. The Duke of Bridgewater. THE vast expenses incurred during the construction of the Bridgewater Canal, often involved the Duke in perplexing pecuniary struggles. It is well known that at one time his credit was so low, that his bill for £500 could scarcely be cashed in Liverpool. Under such difficulties, Gilbert, |