English Dukes.—Norfolk, Somerset, Richmond and Lennox, Grafton, Beaufort, St. Albans, Leeds, Bedford, Devonshire, Marlborough, Rutland, Manchester, Newcastle, Northumberland, Wellington, Buckingham and Chandos, Sutherland, and Cleveland.
Irish Dukes.—Leinster, Abercorn.
Scotch Dukes.—Hamilton and Brandon, Buccleuch, Argyll, Athole, Montrose, and Roxburghe.
There is only one Duchess in her own right—the Duchess of Inverness, which is a Scotch title. On state occasions Dukes wear velvet robes and ducal caps of state, with strawberry leaves in gold.
A stranger addressing one of these Dukes, has to begin his letter as follows:
"My Lord Duke, may it please your Grace." And in state proceedings a Duke is styled "High, Puissant, and Noble Prince." There are Dukes and Dukes. Dukes of the royal blood are still higher in rank than the noble Dukes. The eldest son of the reigning monarch always bears the title of "Prince of Wales." The eldest daughter is called the "Princess Royal." This princess is married to the Crown Prince of Prussia. These two dignitaries, according to court etiquette, are served by the attendants, when at table, on bended knees with uncovered heads. Those admitted to kiss their hands must also kneel. In the House of Lords, when the Queen is present, the Prince of Wales, as heir apparent, sits on the right hand of Her Majesty, while Prince Albert always sat on her left hand. The younger sons of the Queen, when they are Peers, sit on the left hand of the throne, but after the father dies, they sit below the Wool Sack, (a huge fiery red bed-tick full of wool, on which the Lord Chancellor takes it easy when the Lords are in session,) on the bench assigned to the other Dukes.
The Prince of Wales, when on his throne, wears a robe of ermine, a cape of ermine, and a red velvet cap, with a gold tassel over a gold crown, ornamented with pearls. The younger sons and daughters have no diamonds, pearls, or crosses surmounting their diadems—unlike the Prince of Wales.
The three highest subjects after the Queen and the Royal Family in England, are: First, The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. Second, The Lord High Chancellor of England. Third, The Lord Archbishop of York. The Archbishop of Canterbury, who is Primate of England, is styled in public documents, and he also writes himself, "The most Reverend Father in God, the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, by Divine Providence." The Archbishop of York signs himself, "By Divine Permission," as do all the other Bishops. There are only two Ecclesiastical Provinces in England, those of York and Canterbury, and two Archbishops. In the House of Lords the Archbishops and Bishops, (excepting the Irish Bishops now disfranchised,) sit as Spiritual Peers, and the two Archbishops wear Ducal Coronets—the Bishops wearing fillets of gold on their heads, with pearls and jewels. The Bishop of Sodor and Man, and the junior Bishops have no seats in the House of Lords. A Bishop ranks next to a Viscount. The nobility of Great Britain own three-fifths of the landed property of the Kingdom, while starvation and want run riot in the land.
England is studded with parks, villas, castles, game preserves, rabbit warrens, trout streams and deer parks, all of which are held by right of primogeniture. No poor man can enter these beautiful ancestral domains, and the severest penal punishments are meted out to those poor wretches who dare to infringe on the game laws.
The English nobility are not cowardly or treacherous, but many of the younger members are very corrupt, extravagant, and reckless, and no doubt in time their order will pass away, for they are out of place in this century.